Dive in with South Queensferry Sub Aqua Club - BSAC 1262

East Coast Dive Sites and Boat Launch Info

A selection of Dive Sites with GPS positions and Information

RIVER GARRY

Dunbar

24-28m

SS Coath a sister ship

A 1294 TONS STEAMSHIP, BUILT IN 1883 BY WORKMAN CLARK OF BELFAST.

LOST IN A FORCE 12 NNE HURRICANE OFF GOATNESS POINT, DUNBAR ON 18-NOV-1893, WHILE CARRYING A CARGO OF COAL FROM LEITH TO LONDON, THE CREW OF 19 WERE ALL LOST.

FOUND IN 1993 BY EAST LOTHIAN SAC SHE IS WELL BROKEN UP LYING IN GENERAL DEPTHS OF 24 ? 28M ON A ROCK SHINGLE BOTTOM. BOILERS AND ENGINES STILL STAND 3-4M HIGH, LOTS OF HULL PLATE, AND SEEMS TO BE WELL SCATTERED OVER A LARGE AREA.

THERE IS NORMALLY GOOD VISIBILITY, AND THE SITE ISNT AFFECTED BY CURRENTS. NORMALLY LOTS OF FISH LIFE AROUND THIS WRECK.

GPS PLOTS: 55 ? 59 ? 843N 02 ? 25 ? 070W

55 ? 59 ? 836N 02 ? 25 ? 047W

SUGGEST USE GPS AS GENERAL GUIDE, THEN RUN ALONG SOUTH EAST SIDE OF CEMENT WORKS BUILDING TOUCHING NORTH WEST SIDE OF LIGHTHOUSE TRANSIT UNTIL SOUNDER SHOWS WRECKAGE.

updated information 2006

UE 74, OR 'THE SUB'.

GPS position:- 56-03-43N 002-29-38W.

Distance :- 35 degrees ,3.5 NM from Dunbar.

Launch :- Dunbar Harbour, or North Berwick.

U75 Same Class of Minelayer, This Boat laid mines off Hoy, Orkney that sank HMS Hampshire in 1916, HMS Hampshire was taking Lord Kitchener to Russia

- See Orkney Dive Sites Info.

A German ocean minelayer,

Built at Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig , launched in 1915

lost with all 34 Crew on the 16 May, 1916

built at Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig, launched on 10th May 1915.

One of 10 in this class, she served with 1st flotilla, Commander Erwin Weisbach.

She was lost with all 34 Crew on 16 May 1916 on her second patrol

Found in 1960, and 1977 by Royal Navy survey vessels, and dived in 1993

Lies 3.5 miles off Dunbar in 40m. The cause of her sinking is unknown, at first it was thought a mine explosion had blown off the stern, but later examinations seem to show that she has been

rammed. This is borne out by a report from a Dunbar fishing boat, who reported striking an unknown object in this area at around this time.

The Dive

She is lying in 42 metres of water, with a least depth of 39m to the Conning Tower, and lies in a NNE/SSW direction. The Bow is clear of the seabed at an angle of approx 30 degrees, with the Stern, aft of the Deck Gun sunk into the seabed, or missing.

The bow planes are in the hard dive position, and the periscopes fully extended and bent back, there is damage to the hull aft of the conning tower, consistent with being rammed.

She is covered in orange and white plumrose anemones, and is in remarkably good condition. There is a port hole in the Conning tower, and hand rails at

the rear of the Conning Tower, the deck gun is intact, reports of an anchor under the bow and trim weights under the deck, wreckage lying on the seabed.

Visibility can be very good and torches can be switched off,best dived on low water slack to give least depth and longest bottom time, with a weak Nitrox mix to reduce stops and narcosis.

Originally thought to be UE77, but it has since been decided that she is UE74,

The three Boats, U74, 75 and 77 left to lay mines off The Forth, Moray Firth and Scapa Flow,

U75 laid the mines which sunk HMS Hampshire, carrying Lord Kitchener to Russia, U77 was Sunk by gunfire from the Royal Navy trawlers Sea Ranger, Kimberly, Oku, and Rodino off Peterhead after laying mines around kinnaird head.

And U74 was thought to have been lost in a mine handling accident/or by collision.

This is a War Grave and should be treated as such

CYCLOPS, DUNBAR

56 03 28.1N, 002 32 04.2W

The 'Cyclops' is the wreck of a Dredger lying about 3 miles North of Dunbar, 2.8 miles East of the Bass Rock in position 56 03 28.1N, 002 32 04.2W. She sank while under tow from Queensferry to Sunderland to be scrapped on the 27th February 1924.
Reported as lying upside down 3 metres clear of the muddy/sandy seabed at 38 metres, with a length of 45 metres.and breadth of 10 metres, lying north to south.

The sounder showed 36 metres to the top of the wreck and 38 metres to the seabed.

The Highest point of the hull is at 36 metres. A very interesting wreck with large cogs and girders everywhere, and the remains of the buckets still under the wreck, he deepest point is about 42-43m in the scour. A good dive lots to see, the Cyclops is covered in soft corals and sponges, but is silty and stirs up easily, lots of Bib on this wreck, I have never seen Bib on any of the other wrecks in the Forth.

At 45 metres long too big to really see all in one dive, with lots of girders and large flywheels and buckets a very confusing wreck to make sense of. She appears to be lying over on her side, and has sunk into the mud rather than being fully upside down.

If conditions are good an excellent Dive, but beyond Sports Diver qualification limits.

SMS MUNCHEN,

NORTH BERWICK,

55m

German WW1 Cruiser used as a Torpedo Target in 1920's

More to Come

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