Scotland

Scottish Borders

United Kingdom

As a conservation site, you will find plenty of wildlife for the viewing.  The sea bed is primarily pebbly, and there are plenty of gully's for the exploring.

A small islet can be reached and circled for the more adventurous diver.


Head to Eyemouth Golf Course, Passing there you come to the harbour where Aquastars Dive Shop is located.  From here go up the gravel bank on the seaward side.  Here you can park your car, walk down the path to the entry point.

Eyemouth

Cathedral Rock is part of the reef that runs perpendicular to the corner of St Abbs harbour wall, known locally as Thistly Briggs. The 'rock' of Cathedral Rock is never visible, even at the lowest of tides, and many divers actually mistake a reef close by for it.

Underwater, the wall falls away and is deeply undercut by horizontal strata lines eroded away by the movement of the water, and now filled with squat lobsters and leopard-spotted gobies.

The top tunnel is known as the Keyhole, and during the diving season there is often so much trapped air in one of the small upper recesses that you can 'surface' and have a chat with your buddy while still 8m underwater. The lower tunnel archway is massive-of double-decker-bus proportions-with a stony bottom directly under the arch, and a tumble of boulders at each side. 

St Abbs. The best access to dive Cathedral Rock is from the southern side of the harbour wall where the wall joins a low, rocky reef. Directly opposite the entry point is another huge rock called Big Green Carr, which offers shelter, except in the most exceptional circumstances. 



Cathedral rock

I've heard that there is a wreck quite close to the shore? Will update after my fist visit here

From carpark, shore or harbour wall entry

St Abbs Harbour

A site that can be used to finish off a tank as a second dive or as a shore dive from the harbour. The two large rocks, the Green Carrs can be navigated around, then the dive can finish heading back to the harbour wall through the kelp beds. The Carrs have a sandy seabed and small walls covered in soft growth and kelp.

Can be dived as a second dive from a boat or from the ahbour wall via a surface swim.

Big Green Carr

The floor of the tunnel/cave is covered with bare bedrock and smooth stones, and the walls are covered with hydroids, squirts and sponges that prefer low light levels. Outside of the cave, the site has a number of very large boulders and you can ascend up a wall covered in anemones and other diverse life. 

St Abbs. Boat only. A shallow entrance opposite Cleaver Rock, a large stack below the lighthouse on St Abbs Head. 

Tye's Tunnel

This is one of the more popular baot diving sites at St Abbs. The dive consists of series of gullies and walls, some of which have a mild current flowing through them. Plenty of Dead Mans Fingers, Sea Anemones and Urchins all around the rocks. Good site for seeing Wrasse, Scorpinfish and the possibility of a Wolffish. The reef breaks the surface nearer the mainland but kelp covered shelfs in around 5 metres can be found for safety stops.

By boat from St Abbs harbour is easiest. Several depths can be dived depending on how close you are dropped to the rocks.

Black Carrs

The wreck is now very broken up but covered with diverse marine life and the surrounding seabed also has interesting anemones and other life. Currents can be particularly strong on this wreck which must be dived at slack water.

St Abbs. Just east of St Abbs lighthouse.

Glanmire is also known as The Glanmire, St Abbs.

Glanmire

Dunbar

The site of the Propeller of the Chris Christenson, which broke off when it hit the Longstone Reef. The wreck lies nearby in deeper water.
The propeller stands around 3 metres off the seabed and still has part of the shaft connected to it. Divers can also explore the gullies and steep walls of Longstone island. The walls are covered in Dead Mans Fingers and some soft coral.
Seals can also be seen on this dives.

A boat is required to reach this site. RIBs and Hardboats normally launch from either Seahouses or Beadnell.

Christenson Propeller is also known as Propeller of the Chris Christenson.

Christenson Propeller

The wreck of the SS Abessinia, which hit the rocks around Knivestone and sank in 1921. She was a 5,700 ton German Steamer. The wreck is broken up in places but you can still see the engine, boilers and anchor.
The wreck lies in a area covered in soft coral growth with excellent visibility due to the currents. As with all sites in the Farne Islands, you are very likely to see seals on the surface, as well as pups joining you while diving.
The wreck lies between rocks which form a variety of gullies to explore after you have seen the wreck.
SMB's are required to surface with, due to currents usually picking up at the end of a dive.

A boat is required to reach the site. Hardboats and RIBs usually launch from either Seahouses or Beadnell. Best dived at slack water to avoid currents.

Abessinia Wreck

The site is a shallower dive usually used as a second dive. It is also a sheltered site if the weather is bad. The dive starts at around 6 metres in an area of kelp and continues on to a deeper rocky bottom. Good site to see seals as there is a colony nearby. They will often swim near the boat during kitting up as well.

By boat from Seahouses or Beadnell.

Eyemouth

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Eyemouth