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