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Published byAlisa Wagster Modified over 10 years ago
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Browns Bay Dive Site Presented by Chris Bishop PADI DiveMaster Candidate
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Welcome to the North East
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Browns Bay is located on the North East coast between Cullercoats and Whitley Bay
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Browns Bay Whitley Bay Cullercoats
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zooming in closer to see the street names
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Browns Bay
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A view from the air
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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
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The nearest Dive Centre is on Front Street in Tynemouth
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Nearer to where I live is Aquanorth on the Coast Road
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The staff there are very friendly and knowledgeable
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Route from Aquanorth to Browns Bay
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Get there early enough in the morning and you can park at the end of Windsor Terrace
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Otherwise park round the corner on the Promenade in Rockliffe Gardens
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Keep in mind that the changing facilities are somewhat sparse
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Changed and kitted up head over the road to the steps that lead down to sea level
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The steps furthest South are steep and are more suited to non-divers
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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
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So down the steps we go …
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Nearly there and the entry points are almost in sight
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Pass by the old Victorian pool on the left – this can be used for confined water surface training exercises
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then the wall that separates the pool from the sea
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To the entry points on the other side of the wall
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The straight part of the wall is a good navigation reference point as it sits at 45°
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From the corner of the pool, a bearing to St Marys Lighthouse is almost due North
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Looking down from the Promenade, parts of the reef can be seen projecting into the bay
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Another view with the tide further out and more of the rocks exposed
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A view of the gulley leading out to part of the reef
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A rough map of the area copied from the book Shipwrecks of the North East
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And again but without the surrounding areas showing just the dive site
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Adding some details
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High water line
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The Preferred Route steps
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The old Victorian pool
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Sandy training area
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Sandy training area
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Sandy training area Kelp
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp North
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Take this heading for the sandy training area
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 5
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Visibility can be very good
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 55
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4
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Young flatfish can often be seen on the sand
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6 6
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Here is another local resident
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6 6 6
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6 6 6 6
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6 6 6 6 5
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area 2 North Kelp 3 4 554 4 5 6 6 6 6 5 4
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Log the dive
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Dive Data Max depth: 6 Metres Visibility: 5 Metres Temperature: 15°C Duration: 21 Minutes
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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
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Steps Pool Butetown Current Lobster-pot buoy
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Take this heading for the wreck of the Butetown
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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.
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 5 4
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 5 4
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4
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Uncle Bob leading the way through the kelp
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5
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Sketches showing the reef some hull plating and the boilers
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Visible area at low tide NORTH
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Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef NORTH
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Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline NORTH
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Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers NORTH
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Remains of one of the boilers
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Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers Deck plating NORTH
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Parts of the plating still intact
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Visible area at low tide Edge of the reef Probable hull outline Boilers Deck plating Further wreckage NORTH
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Some of the ribs
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5 6
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 6
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 6 7
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 6 7 7
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The Preferred Route steps The old Victorian pool Reef Wreckage of the Butetown Sandy training area Kelp 120° North 22 3 6 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 6
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Surfacing from the wreck reveals the following transit-points
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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
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Log the dive
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Dive Data Max depth: 7 Metres Visibility: 5 Metres Temperature: 15°C Duration: 24 Minutes
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At low tide, a view of the gully leading up from one of the exit points
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Whats needed after an enjoyable dive is a cup of tea and some food
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But there isnt one of these so youll have to wait until you get home !
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Safety Information
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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
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Contact Numbers Aquanorth Dive Centre: 0191-266-6626 North Tyneside Police: 0191-214-6555 Hull Hyperbaric Unit: 01482-659471 Cullercoats Lifeguard: 0191-252-1820 Coastguard: VHF Ch16
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Always follow safe dive practices and procedures Doing so will greatly reduce the chance of having to call for one of these
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Browns Bay Dive Site Remember Being Wary Reduces All Failures and Safely Ascend From Every Dive
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