Browns Bay Dive Site Presented by Chris Bishop PADI DiveMaster Candidate

Welcome to the North East

Browns Bay is located on the North East coast between Cullercoats and Whitley Bay

Browns Bay Whitley Bay Cullercoats

zooming in closer to see the street names

Browns Bay

A view from the air

The site has an interesting array of aquatic flora and fauna, popular for fish, crab, lobster, pipefish, starfish and a dense garden of kelp It is also the home of the Butetown wreck An ideal mix of features which make for a worthy dive to a maximum depth of around 9 metres

The nearest Dive Centre is on Front Street in Tynemouth

Nearer to where I live is Aquanorth on the Coast Road

The staff there are very friendly and knowledgeable

Route from Aquanorth to Browns Bay

Get there early enough in the morning and you can park at the end of Windsor Terrace

Otherwise park round the corner on the Promenade in Rockliffe Gardens

Keep in mind that the changing facilities are somewhat sparse

Changed and kitted up head over the road to the steps that lead down to sea level

The steps furthest South are steep and are more suited to non-divers

The set to the North of the site starts with a ramp and has four turns with level areas which are ideal for a quick rest on the way This is the preferred route

So down the steps we go …

Nearly there and the entry points are almost in sight

Pass by the old Victorian pool on the left – this can be used for confined water surface training exercises

then the wall that separates the pool from the sea

To the entry points on the other side of the wall

The straight part of the wall is a good navigation reference point as it sits at 45°

From the corner of the pool, a bearing to St Marys Lighthouse is almost due North

Looking down from the Promenade, parts of the reef can be seen projecting into the bay

Another view with the tide further out and more of the rocks exposed

A view of the gulley leading out to part of the reef

A rough map of the area copied from the book Shipwrecks of the North East

And again but without the surrounding areas showing just the dive site

Adding some details

High water line

The Preferred Route steps

The old Victorian pool

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Sandy training area

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Sandy training area

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Sandy training area Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp North

Take this heading for the sandy training area

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 5

Visibility can be very good

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

Young flatfish can often be seen on the sand

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

Here is another local resident

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp

Log the dive

Dive Data Max depth: 6 Metres Visibility: 5 Metres Temperature: 15°C Duration: 21 Minutes

When the tide turns the surface current can be quite strong and you could find yourself 150 to 200 metres off shore close to the lobster pot lines

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy

Take this heading for the wreck of the Butetown

The wreck is approximately 150 metres from the entry point. Follow the gully from the old pool, swim away from the shore and descend to avoid any surge - especially noticeable close to the shore on the higher tides. Head out to the reef with a bearing of 120° and when you reach it keep it on your right hand side. There are several gaps in the reef wall which allow access or continue until you reach the kelp and then clamber through. On the other side you will see the wreckage below you. There are ribs, plates and two large boilers. When the visibility is good you can see most of wreckage covering about 20 metres.

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

Uncle Bob leading the way through the kelp

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

Sketches showing the reef some hull plating and the boilers

Visible area at low tide NORTH

Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef NORTH

Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline NORTH

Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers NORTH

Remains of one of the boilers

Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers Deck plating NORTH

Parts of the plating still intact

Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers Deck plating Further wreckage NORTH

Some of the ribs

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North

Surfacing from the wreck reveals the following transit-points

At 270° the left hand lamp- post should line up with the turret on the left At 340° the arches on the left should just be visible past the headland

Log the dive

Dive Data Max depth: 7 Metres Visibility: 5 Metres Temperature: 15°C Duration: 24 Minutes

At low tide, a view of the gully leading up from one of the exit points

Whats needed after an enjoyable dive is a cup of tea and some food

But there isnt one of these so youll have to wait until you get home !

Safety Information

Life buoys are located just above the dive site along the promenade In case of emergencies and where appropriate, dial 999 and ask for Coastguard Emergency Services The nearest RNLI station is South of Browns Bay in Cullercoats Harbour

Contact Numbers Aquanorth Dive Centre: North Tyneside Police: Hull Hyperbaric Unit: Cullercoats Lifeguard: Coastguard: VHF Ch16

Always follow safe dive practices and procedures Doing so will greatly reduce the chance of having to call for one of these

Browns Bay Dive Site Remember Being Wary Reduces All Failures and Safely Ascend From Every Dive