Mull couple launch dream venture offering Scottish diving trips up to ten days

Chris Thompson and Liz Tallentire are preparing to welcome diving enthusiasts on board their newly converted vessel, Jayne Pearl, operated through their business EMT2. From June, they will offer full-board diving trips for groups of ten to 12.

Thompson and Tallentire, originally from Yorkshire and County Durham, met on a scuba diving trip in Scapa Flow, Orkney in 2017. Soon after, they purchased a 19-metre Danish ex-fishing boat that had spent 50 years working in the North Sea, with the aim of transforming it into a fully equipped diving charter vessel.

Alongside their full-time careers in mechanical engineering and NHS clinical psychology, the couple spent evenings and weekends restoring the boat and preparing it for commercial use. To help complete the final stages of the project, the pair secured £33,000 of Start Up Loans finance with support from DSL Business Finance.

Tallentire said: “Being able to share our passion for diving with other explorers is very exciting. We’ve always loved discovering new sites, and Jayne Pearl gives us the chance to open that world up to others.

“Our goal is to make each trip as memorable as possible and leave a lasting impression on our guests. In time, we hope to build an established customer base with a positive reputation in the industry.”

Based on Mull, with pick-up available from the mainland, Jayne Pearl will take guests to some of Scotland’s most impressive diving locations, from historic shipwrecks to vibrant marine habitats. Longer term, the couple are hoping to introduce overseas voyages, including trips to Norway.

Since it began in 2012, the Start Up Loans programme has provided almost £1.5 million across 135 loans to start up businesses in Argyll and Bute.

Barry McCulloch, senior manager, UK network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “Chris and Liz have turned their expertise and enthusiasm into an exciting venture for those wanting to explore Scotland’s waters. EMT2 will give the diving community access to a range of unique sites, supported by expert guidance.”