Scenic Dives around Eyemouth & St Abbs

Scenic dives | Wrecks up to 5m from Eyemouth | Wrecks up to 10m from Eyemouth | Wrecks between 10-15m from Eyemouth | Wrecks between 15-20m from Eyemouth | Further afield | Shore facilities | Links of interest

Being based in the St Abbs & Eyemouth Marine Reserve, Scotland’s only marine reserve you don’t have to go far to find some excellent dive sites. The combination of clear water, spectacular underwater scenery and a wide variety of marine wild life makes the diving some of the best in the UK.

Ross Carrs (Burnmouth): Depth ~ 18m

This dive is on a series of rocky reefs running parallel to the shore. A mass of life can be seen on this site from sea cucumbers and black gobies on the sand between the reefs, dragonets and dead men’s fingers on the reefs to large cod and pollock patrolling above the reefs. This is a very scenic dive and one of our most popular.

Burnmouth Caves (Horse Cave, Dove Cave and Scout Cave): Depth ~ 12m

These three caves lie under the great cliffs that run from Eyemouth to Burnmouth. The walls of these caves are covered in marine life, particularly sea squirts, hydroids and anemones. In June and early July juvenile Shags and Guillemots can be see swimming under water at the mouth of the caves.

Hurkur Rock (Eyemouth): Depth ~ 15m

Hurkur Rock is the largest rock, which forms the natural breakwater protecting Eyemouth bay. The sides of the rock descend steeply and are fringed with kelp forest. Beneath the kelp, there is a profusion of soft corals, anemones and sponges. The lower reef is home to brittlestars, sunstars and heart urchins. Wolfish are often found here, usually in mating pairs. The reef is swept with strong currents and is usually dived on neap tides or slack water.

Fort Point or Luff Hard Reef (Eyemouth): Depth ~ 15m

This reef is situated directly under Fort Point and is an excellent dive site. The offshore side of the reef is split in to three distinct rock groups divided by narrow canyons, which are covered by soft corals and nudibranchs. On the inshore side of the reef a 3m long anchor marks the start of a small canyon. Debris of the wrecked steam fishing boat Spes-Bona can be found scattered around the area. The boat was wrecked with all hands aboard in 1944. Pollock and large cod are often seen patrolling the kelp forest, which lines the passageways.

Fold Buss (Eyemouth): Depth: 10 - 32m

This offshore site is very seldom visited due to its proximity to the main shipping channel to and from Eyemouth. With our experience however, we can advise you on the best times to dive here. Fold Buss is actually a seamount that soars up from 30m to ~10m beneath the surface. The rock surface is covered in dead men’s fingers and plumose anemones. Wolfish are common at this site, as are squat lobsters.

Brander Point (St Abbs): Depth ~ 12m

Brander Point can’t be missed as you make your way up the coast from St Abbs Head. The rocky substrate and seams running through it on Brander Point can be seen to have been turned through 90 degress to an almost vertical position. Hutton, the grandfather of geology, did a lot of his pioneering work on this part of the coastline. The point runs out from the shore down to a depth of ~27m, but most of the best diving is to be had along the undercut head wall that runs round the point into the next bay. The walls are covered in soft Corrals, anemones, and starfish. Ballan wrasse are also commonly seen. Brander Point is very rarely dived but is well worth the journey, and you might even catch a glimpse of the two resident white goats that often wander around the rocks there.

Fast Castle (North of St Abbs head): Depth ~ 12m

Fast Castle and its remote and wild setting is a highly unexplored dive site. Reportedly there is a fortune in Spanish gold hidden in a cave beneath the castle!! Eyemouth and District SAC explored the site in 1967 and 1969 in an attempt to find the treasure, the second time with a BBC film crew. Both attempts however were hampered by strong surge and low visibility. There is much good diving to be had here along the numerous offshore reefs and headlands.

In addition to the diving in the Marine Reserve there are some fantastic trips that Marine Quest can offer to the Bell Rock, May Island, Craig Leith and the Bass Rock.

Further information on the dive sites:

• Dive St Abbs - Divernet
• Dive Eyemouth - Divernet

General diving information

• Equipment can be hired
• Spares are carried on board such as fin straps etc
• Access to air fills up to 240 bar
• Nitrox fills
• Extra weights carried onboard