Farne Islands
The Farnes is possibly one of the best dive sites in the UK. A few good wrecks, great topography, generally reasonable visibility, plenty of marine life, Sea bird nesting sites, easy access and, of course, seals.
A weekend dive trip to the Farnes is always good fun and, when the skipper confirmed the weather was good, the excitement for the weekend began to build. A relatively quick journey up meant we were booked into our accommodation by 9 and in a bar by 9:30 catching up with everyone. add to that a relatively relaxed 9am ropes off and the weekend started well.
The weather overcast but was calm although the sea did have a slight meter high swell, however, once we arrived at the islands this was cancelled out. The first task was to find an appropriate dive site. Wit high tides this was proving difficult. The skipper (Toby) was trying to avoid diving where other boats were located and to find us some wreckage. He eventually settled on the Northern Hares where the remains of the Loch Leven are strewn along the rocky wall.
This is a simple enough dive with a drop in at about 7/8 meters. We then headed NW passing a few bits of debris and took the line of the rock reef in a westerly direction. The reef is an amazing outcrop and the topography is stunning. Along the reef we encountered several more large pieces of the Loch Leven. We were accompanied by inquisitive seals who investigated us from a few meters away. Eventually the reef opened up at about 18 meters to large rocky mounds with small shoals of fish darting in between the sheltered areas, which is where we ended the dive.
Our second of the day was a dive along a rock wall off the North Warmes. This is a rock wall descending to about 20 meters and then spreading out on a boulder strewn plain. The rocks and cracks hid a surprisingly large number of lobsters and squat lobsters. The visibility of up to 15 meters enabled us to thoroughly enjoy the dive.
Post dive we felt obliged to stop off at the Ship Inn before heading back to the hives and out for Pizzas and then a few beers in the local social club.
An earlier (requested) start saw us on the boat by 8 heading out to our first dive site the St Andre, a wreck spread around a small bay with the two boilers centrally located. One of the best dives on the Farnes with an open water drop down a shot onto the boilers seated at about 20 meters and then a NW swim to the towering wall. From there it is an anticlockwise swim around the bay encountering wreckage covered in plumose anemones and followed by inquisitive seals.
Our second dive was a shallower one but still full of interest and rounded off the weekend with great visibility and plenty of marine life to observe. The return to Seahouses was quick and the sighting of a puffin in winter plumage made the weekend complete.
We are already looking forward to next years visit.
Accommodation (The Hides, bunkhouse) – https://www.the-hides.co.uk/
Dive charter – Sovereign Divers – https://sovereigndiving.co.uk/
Elan (pizza restaurant) – https://www.elanpizzeria.co.uk/
Ship Inn – https://theoldeship.co.uk/
