browns bay dive site presented by chris bishop padi divemaster candidate
TRANSCRIPT
Brown’s Bay Dive Site
Presented by Chris Bishop
PADI DiveMaster Candidate
Welcome to the North East
Brown’s Bayis located on the North East coast
between Cullercoats and Whitley
Bay
Brown’s Bay
Whitley Bay
Cullercoats
zooming in closer to see the street
names
Brown’s Bay
A view from the air
The site has an interesting array of aquatic flora and fauna, popular forfish, 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 maximumdepth 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
Travel.htm
Start out at Aquanorth Sliproad 0Continue forward, then merge onto Coast Road - A1058 A1058 0.58Continue forward onto Coast Road - A1058. Entering Wallsend A1058 0.74Junction with A186 A1058 1.33Blue Sign Petrol Station A1058 1.7Junction with A19 (Silverlink Interchange) A1058 3.16Keep in right hand lane then cross flyover (signposted Tynemouth) A1058 3.22Continue forward onto Coast Road - A1058. Entering North Shields A1058 3.57At Billy Mill Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Beach Road - A1058 A1058 4.57Bear left onto Beach Road - A1058. Entering Tynemouth A1058 5.39At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Beach Road - A1058 A1058 5.41At roundabout take the 1st exit onto The Broadway - A193 A193 6.18At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Mast Lane Mast Lane 6.75Continue forward onto Marden Avenue Marden Avenue 6.95Turn left onto Beverley Terrace Beverley Terrace 7.09At mini-roundabout continue forward onto Victoria Crescent Victoria Crescent 7.14Continue forward onto Front Street Front Street 7.19Bear right onto Victoria Crescent Victoria Crescent 7.26Turn right onto Promontory Terrace Promontory Terrace 7.35Turn left onto Windsor Crescent Windsor Crescent 7.4Continue forward onto Windsor Crescent. Entering Whitley Bay Windsor Crescent 7.41Turn left onto Windsor Avenue Windsor Avenue 7.48Turn right onto Windsor Terrace Windsor Terrace 7.54Finish on Windsor Terrace,Whitley Bay Park here 7.62
Route from Aquanorth to Brown’s 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 thechanging 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 thepool, a bearing to
St Mary’s Lighthouseis 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 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
34
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
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
34
5 5
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 4
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
34
5 5 4 45
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
6
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
66
Here is another local resident
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
666
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
6666
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
66665
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
2
North
Kelp
34
5 5 4 45
666654
Log the dive
Dive Data
Max depth: 6 MetresVisibility: 5 MetresTemperature: 15°C
Duration: 21 Minutes
When the tide turns the surface current can be
quite strong and you could find yourself 150 to 200
metresoff 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 iton 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
22 354
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3654
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4
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
22 3
66654
5 5 4 4
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
Sketches showing thereef 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
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
6
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
6
6
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
6
67
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
6
67
7
The Preferred Route steps
The old Victorian pool
Reef
Wreckage of the Butetown
Sandy training area
Kelp
120°
North
22 3
66654
5 5 4 45
6
67
76
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 MetresVisibility: 5 MetresTemperature: 15°C
Duration: 24 Minutes
At low tide, a view of thegully leading up from one
of the exit points
What’s needed after an enjoyable dive is a
cupof tea and some food
But there isn’t one of these so you’ll 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 Brown’s Bay in
Cullercoats Harbour
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
Always follow safe dive practices and procedures
Doing so will greatly reduce the chance of
having to call for one of these
Brown’s Bay Dive Site
RememberBeing Wary Reduces All
Failuresand
Safely Ascend From Every Dive