7th-8th June, By Jeff Howells
A great weekend organised by Graham Brookes!
Due to illness, just a small group of 3 divers set off to St Abbs. Having watched the feature on diving Cathedral Rock on BBC's "Coast" programme the previous week I was keen to be there, so keen that when packing the car to leave on Thursday I left my drysuit behind!
Accommodation for the weekend was the excellent
Rhovanion B&B in Coldingham, just 1.5 miles from St Abbs. Lynne reckoned that after a Rhovanion breakfast you could take a weight off your weight-belt. I don't know if it was excellent research by Graham in advance, or just good luck, but it turned out that Coldingham had a pub while St Abbs didn't. A great mixture of friendly Northern people, nice beer and good food, just what was needed after the long journey to get there.
Diving for the weekend was booked with Dive St Abbs diving from MV Topline. This proved to be an excellent large boat with plenty of room for up to 12 divers with straightforward entry and exit to and from the water via the low gunwhale. The skipper, Paul Crowe, was knowlegeable, helpful and brilliantly organised in getting divers in and out of the water and gear from the harbour wall to/from the boat despite the large tidal range. All dives were followed with piping hot coffee and chocolate biscuits. As there are lots of excellent 20 metre or less dive sites close to the harbour in the marine nature reserve, it's very easy to get 3 dives in a day. Paul was able to suggest underwater routes that offered lots of variety including through caves, gullies, boulder fields and rock walls.
St Abbs is in the
St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve. The whole area is crammed with marine life. Underwater there is a profusion of large rocks providing loads of swim through "valleys" and large growths of kelp to provide shelter for wildlife. On our dives we spotted a wide variety of species, but as a relative novice I was particularly impressed by the profusion of large Ballan Wrasse, sunstars, dead man's fingers, plumose anemones, brittle stars, etc. On one dive Graham pointed out a large shoal of fish, but I thought it was a load of pollocks.
On Saturday we set off for Wuddy Rocks at 9.00; back at 11.00 ish for a nice cuppa at a welcoming tea room, Spring Bank, overlooking the harbour; back out again to The Skellys at 1.00. We finished the afternoon with a shore dive to Cathedral Rock. Walking around the harbour walls and down the rocks fully kitted up sure brings home the advantages of diving from a boat, but an excellent dive enhanced by the leisurely tow back to shore by Graham as I had lost a fin!
Walking to the pub on Saturday evening we detoured from the main road and followed a footpath next to St Andrew's Burn. Many plant species identified by Lynne, and seed heads "sampled" for growing on in her garden. There were some interesting sculptures dotted around, an indication of the local people's pride in their community.
Back to the harbour on Sunday for two more dives to Black Carrs and The Skellys. To top off an excellent weekend, the traffic was free flowing on the way back, providing an easy journey home. I diligently washed all of my kit with the outside tap as soon as I got back. Just as I finished hanging it out to dry in the garden, the heavens opened and washed it all again. Normal weather service was resumed!
