The Farne Islands |
Dive Operator: Farne Diving Services (Lee Hall), Tel. 01665 720615, Mobile. 0585 696115
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| Britannia |
N55o37.687 W001o36.295 |
| Last dived |
No. visits |
25th September 1915, thick fog and the Longstone light switched off as a war precaution the Britannia on route from Newcastle to Lieth struck the Crumstone and following a heavy swell, the following day she sank. The wreck is now broken up with the boilers lying in a gully at 10 metres and the wreck proper straddling a slope down to 30 metres. The main are of interest being the bow section lying at 28 - 30 metres on the sea bed and a set of winches at 25 metres. Diving should only be carried out at slack and preferably on a neap tide. Slack water being 1.5 -1.75 hrs. after low water at Seahouses.
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| 7.9.02 |
1 |
| Depth |
Rating |
26.2
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| Somali |
N55o34.065 W001o36.069 |
| Last dived |
No. visits |
One of the most popular dive sites in the area and even after years of intense diving there is still the possibility of finding some memento. The Somali met her fate to the south of Beadnell where she was bombed by a squadron of Heinkel 111 bombers. Taken under tow, an explosion occurred and blew her bow away, she then settled on the bottom in her present position. A slack water dive which in the summer months is frequented by a multitude of Day Boats and R.I.B.s. An exciting dive which requires careful planning and some luck in finding your anchor/shot line at the end of the dive. |
| 14.9.02 |
1 |
| Depth |
Rating |
29.1
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| Chris Christenson |
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| Last dived |
No. visits |
A slack water dive, the 'Christenson went down during the winter of 1915 and lies at 32 metres. In good conditions it's a great dive (especially if you've got the wreck to yourselves as we had on our last visit). Huge boilers, really huge winches, a prop shaft that still sits on its mountings and the engine are all waiting to be seen. Sadly, the steering wheel (near the southern-most boiler) is now broken - probably as a result of someone anchoring.
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| 14.9.02 |
2 |
| Depth |
Rating |
32.6
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| The Hopper, Longstone |
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| Last dived |
No. visits |
This area is dominated by the stubby pillar of rock adjacent to the SE corner of Longstone. It is diveable at all states of tide provided one stays close to the reef. Depth to the seabed against the reef is about 18 metres and this slopes away the further east one ventures. Seals regularly buzz divers in the narrow gully to the south of the pillar. The stepped nature of the reef offers a multilevel dive suitable for most levels of experience.
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| 7.9.02 |
1 |
| Depth |
Rating |
20.4
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| Knivestone, North Side |
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| Last dived |
No. visits |
Covered at HW, this reef proved fatal to many ships over the years. The north side is diveable during the ebb at anything but high water springs - the reef providing a lee. This side of the reef drops in series of gradually widening terraces to the seabed at about 17 metres. A number of shallow gulleys criss-cross the seabed and these contain numerous bits of wreckage from the many ships that fell victim to the reef, the Abessinia being but one. The engines of this are in the shallows near the top of the reef at the NW corner, the main bulk of wreckage including the boilers being strewn around the west side towards the SW corner. Seals regularly accompany divers - especially amongst the Abessinia's remains.
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| 8.9.02 |
2 |
| Depth |
Rating |
22.9
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| Knivestone, South Side |
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| Last dived |
No. visits |
Unlike the north side, the south side is rarely diveable mid-tide and whilst it's possible to reach the Abessinia from the north side mid-tide, it cannot be reached from the south; the reef does provide a lee but it's often difficult to leave its shelter because of the severe current flow at each end. This side of the reef drops vertically to the seabed at about 15 metres then slopes down to deeper water. There are deep, picturesque gulleys at the west side and these offer the chance of encountering seals. A narrow gully (Seal Gully) runs through the knivestone from east to west and allows divers to reach the Abessinia with ease.
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| 8.9.02 |
1 |
| Depth |
Rating |
15.5
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