The Farne Islands are a group of Islands situated off the Northumberland Coast famous for their colonies of birds, diver-friendly seals and situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The waters are rich in sea life and the natural shelter of the islands gives good protection for diving. At this time of year, year old seal pups are getting curious and adventurous, joining divers in the water to play, making this an exceptional time of year to dive!
Following a pleasant scenic drive to Seahouses, Northumberland on Friday, you’ll check in to the accommodation and get a good night’s sleep before breakfast and dives!
You’ll enjoy two dives per day, jumping in from Farne Diver before exploring the magnificent reefs and kelp forests. Seal encounters are almost guaranteed this time of year, so chances are you’ll overlook the beauty of what’s around you when there are so many playful seals to interact with.
Year old seal pups seem to get just as excited about swimming with divers as we do about them! They’ll be ready to join you, have a play and if you’re lucky, a nibble of your fins!
Price
Diving & Accommodation: £215
Deposit: £100 per person. Please note, this is required to secure your place on board & accommodation and is non-refundable.
Arrangement Fee: FREE for NHDC Dive Society members, £20 for non-dive society members, £10 for non-divers.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 6 weeks prior to departure. Payment plans can be arranged; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
Pre-requisites
Ability: You will need to be a PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent) before you travel.
Medically Fit: Complete this UK Trip Medical Questionnaire and have a GP countersign it if required.
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Accommodation
This 2 day trip involves travelling to Seahouses, Northumberland, on the 4th September before checking in to the accommodation, having a meal at a nearby pub or restaurant and getting a good nights sleep.
Accommodation has been booked for the nights of the 4th and 5th September, so you’ll be able to relax after diving for one more night (evening of the 5th) in twin accommodation on a B&B basis. You’ll get another chance to visit local bars and restaurants for your evening meal.
Diving
Diving will take place from Farne Diver (one or two), a comfortable hard boat, complete with diver lift to help you back on board after diving! You’ll head out each morning for 2 dives per day, returning mid-afternoon, giving you chance to explore the sites on land too.
You’ll be able to enjoy 2 days of diving diving on the 5th and 6th September before you to head home again during the afternoon of the 6th.
Due to the nature of the diving, you will need a Dive computer and delayed SMB with reel, as well as your usual personal dive equipment.
Water temperatures at this time of year average 15oC, therefore Drysuits and undersuits are essential. Hoods and gloves are also highly recommended.
Wrecks and various nooks & crannies may be available to explore. To get the most from these dives, you will need a good torch.
You will need to take two cylinders and weights with you; these are not available locally.
All required equipment can be rented from NHDC for the weekend. Some back-up items may be available locally but cannot be guaranteed, therefore it is advisable to take what you’ll need!
The package price for Divers includes:
- Two days of diving with 2 dives per day, from the hard boat ‘Farne Diver’
- Accommodation in twin share en-suite accommodation on a B&B basis for two nights. Please note, single occupancy is not available on this trip. If you are a solo traveller we will help to find a suitable room share and buddy for the weekend.
- Provision of a Trip Leader by New Horizons Dive Centre.
Non-Divers
Non divers may be able to join us but will not be permitted on board the boat. They can spend their time exploring the beauty of the Northumberland coast line, the stunning castles and the wonderful sandy beaches located there.
The Farnes are steeped in history with many ships coming to grief on the rugged islands. The Islands themselves are home to a large number of sea birds including puffins, terns, guillemots, razorbills and cormorants. It’s also home to one of Europe’s largest colony of seals, making this one of the UK’s hottest diving spots!
The Farne Islands offer a wide range of diving for all experiences and tastes. The underwater visibility at times can reach 20 meters, which makes it ideal for finding those tiny sea creatures, although the focus of this weekend is on seals!
Scenic Dives
The scenic diving around the Farne Islands is some of the best in the country, with beautiful soft corals, sun stars, sea urchins and anemones to name but a few. You can dive through gullies covered in deadman’s fingers or among huge boulders that have something hiding behind every nook and cranny.
Kelp forests will have grown, providing a wonderful backdrop to the game of ‘hide – and – seek’ you’ll be invited to partake in (even seals have party games!).
Wrecks
While not the main draw for this weekend, there are many wrecks for divers to explore, ranging in depth from 6 metres to 34, ensuring there is something for all levels of training and experience. You may be able to cruise around them, investigating their remains while the pesky seals encourage you to play!
Dive site highlights
Seals! The sites are abundant in marine life, including various urchins, crabs, lobsters, star fish galore, and spectacular corals. While the wrecks themselves are impressive to dive, they are now home to a range of species with all sorts of life hiding in the nooks and crannies.
If the seals let you look, you’ll be amazed at what thrives in waters so close to home!
Experience
Due to the nature of the diving and sea temperatures, you must be PADI Open Water Diver (or greater) and be comfortable using a drysuit. This is the perfect opportunity to try out UK sea diving and maybe even complete an Adventure Dive or two as part of the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
Further Education
Courses, such as the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Boat Diver, Photography, SMB Diver or Underwater Naturalist Diver Specialties can at least be started, if not completed while on board at a discounted price, so get in touch to arrange your course and trip schedule.
Let us know you want to join us! Simply send us a UK Trip Booking Form and completed UK Trip Medical Questionnaire.
Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the booking form, medical questionnaire and deposit. Please get in touch to inquire about spaces and prices for non-divers.
NHDC Dive Society members will get advance notice and priority booking.
Get in touch for our bank account details or to make payment over the phone.
Deposit: £100 for divers. Please note, this is required to secure your accommodation & place on the dive boat and is non-refundable.
Arrangement Fee: FREE for NHDC Dive Society members, £20 for non-dive society members, £10 for non-divers.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 6 weeks prior to departure. Payment plans can be arranged; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
Transport is to be arranged privately – New Horizons can help with car sharing, so please let us know if you can offer anyone a lift.
