Green Ends Gully

GREEN ENDS GULLY

Just outside the southern extremity of the St. Abbs and Eyemouth voluntary Marine reserve, lies a little known dive site that is regularly overlooked by the masses. In fact I had to ask directions to find it, as it’s around 10 years since I last dived the site. In that time, Eyemouth Harbour has been massively reconstructed and the old access to the site no longer exists. Thankfully though, the dive site remains unchanged.
There is a car park right at the head of the gully and it’s only a very short walk to the entry point, along a concrete path. You can almost get straight in if it’s a high tide but if the tide is low, it can be a bit of a guddle. The effort is well worth it though as depth is quickly gained and the narrow confines of the kelpy access route are quickly left behind. Soon the depth becomes 8 metres within a sheer sided gully around 5 metres wide. Pipefish are commonly found here in clumps of weed on the seafloor. Around 20 metres along the gully the depth starts to drop off again and on the left hand side a large flat slab of rock forms a massive overhang. It’s full of cracks and crevices with larger recesses at its base. The first thing that struck me was the colours. There were the usual Dead men’s fingers in orange and white, but the rocks themselves were covered in yellow, pink and orange encrusting growths that made the site very pretty. Looking more closely at this area you will find Yarrels Blenny’s, Scorpionfish, Lobsters, Squat Lobsters and loads of Nudibranches. For macro photographers it’s delightful, with all that colourful negative space to fill.
Opposite the overhang a gully branches off at right angles from the right hand side of the main gully. Depth shallows and small rounded boulders cover the seafloor. There is said to be a nice archway in here on the right hand side but I didn’t find it on this dive, although I have seen it on my previous dives. I found the main gully much more interesting. Heading offshore from the overhang through a narrow gap a nice sandy floored gully 13 metres deep is found at the seaward end of the main gully. By following the dive around to the right. Just offshore is a submerged reef rising around 5 metres off the seafloor. There is a little more tidal movement here so there is lots of life to see. Velvet backed swimming crabs fill every crevice in this site, which has a reputation for Octopus sightings although 2008 has been a poor year for seeing these creatures. The course sand at the base of this gully is home to Prawns, tiny Flatfish and goby’s that lie partially buried in the sand. A couple of large boulders mark the end of the gully. They are covered in soft corals including Plumose Anemones, which confirm that the tide affects this area. It’s also a good feature to mark the end of the dive. Now the diver just needs to retrace their route back to the main gully, past the overhang and back to the exit point. Planning to arrive back here at high tide makes the exit a lot easier on the heavily kited diver.
A very rewarding dive from the shore that demands little effort.
Practicalities
Directions
Take the turnoff from the A1 for Eyemouth and follow this road for 2 miles until a roundabout is found. Take the exit marked Aquastars dive shop. Once at the shop a track is found at the seaward side of the large new Harbour building. One hundred metres along this and you arrive at the car park.
Parking
The car park can accommodate around 4 cars but it’s a squeeze. This site is a favourite training site for Aquastars so their jeep is often parked here. From the car park it’s 50 metres at the most until you are at the entry/exit point.
Tidal/weather considerations
In the gully there is next to no tide but once out onto the reef at the end of the gully a moderate tide can be experienced. The site is fairly sheltered apart from Winds from the east or the north. Any wind of moderate force or over from these directions will make shore diving here dangerous.
Air fills/local dive centre contact-
Aquastars Dive CentreGuns Green Basin, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland Tel.07949 808565 FAX.018907 51470.
Fully stocked diving and watersports shop (Going Online very soon!)
Compressed air to 300bar
Nitrox fills from our "state of the art" membrane system.
PADI Training Courses
Guided dives
Diver Rest Room
Equipment hire
Equipment service and repair
Snacks and drinks
Also
Marine Quest Boat Charter'The Harbourside'33 Harbour RoadEyemouthBerwickshireScotlandTD14 5HY
Email: info@marinequest.co.uk
Web www.marinequest.co.ukTelephone: +44 (0)1890 752444 or 07780 823884
Air available. Also Home of the Harbourside Café and its fantastic home baking.
Harbourside Accommodation is also available through Marine Quest
The Harbourside has a large lounge room with TV and free Wi-Fi Internet access, a breakfast room, a large drying room, and on-site 02 clean air. All rooms are en-suite. The Harbourside can sleep up to 15. Please contact us for full details and to book your whole trip.
Facilities on site (or if not, where do you go for toilet/food/changing)
As per the two dive centres above and also the harbour buildings of which Aquastars forms part, Showers and Toilets available here.
As said food and snacks available from the Harbourside Café. Eyemouth is a large town and has a variety of pubs, restaurants and chip shops etc.
Local BSAC Club contact
BSAC 21 in Edinburgh
Mike Clark