Dunbar Harbour – Harbour Wall – Johnstones Hole

 

Alternative Name(s): Harbour Reef & Johnson’s Hole

           

Travel directions:   Dunbar lies just off the A1, 25 miles east of Edinburgh. 

 

Parking directions: Plenty of parking at the Harbour    

 

Distance from Little Chef, Milton:          87miles(ish)

OS Map & Grid Ref: NT678789    X:367900, Y:679500

Lat & Long: 

OS Map:        Ordnance Survey Landranger maps - LR067 - DUNS/DUNBAR/EYEMOUTH

 

Site entry/exit:         2 options: 1. Walk in from Pebble beach and dive straight out to Johnstone’s Hole. 2. Leap of Faith of Harbour Wall and swim round Harbour reef towards Johnstone’s Hole.       

 

Underwater directions:    1. Swim almost direct north towards Johnstone’s hole Rock, swim around to the North face and have a look in Johnstone’s Hole.  2. If jumping of the harbour wall (recommended), descend relatively quickly in case there are any boats about.  Circumnavigate the harbour wall and then take a rough bearing of East North East towards Johnstone’s hole.  Johnstone’s Hole is on the north face of the big rock.

Once you have had a look about the site, if you have plenty of air left, go right round the rock in a clockwise direction then return up pebble beach.

 

Site Hazards:           Boats coming in and out the Harbour.  Fishing Line.  Kelp.  Currents.  Disorientation underwater due to the large quantities of kelp.  If there is a swell, forget about it.

 

Suggested experience:    OW with good navigational skills. Best done at high tide.

 

Nearest Public phone:      Dunbar Harbour

 

Mobile Network service:  All, I think

 

Other comments:   

 

You can do Harbour wall separate from Johnstones Hole if you like!!

Harbour Wall - This dive is quite shallow, so it is best to do it at high tide.
You can circumnavigate the point in about 20 minutes, so this is an ideal site for a night or training dive. Stick close to the reef wall and do not stray into the harbour entrance channel. The depth increases from an initial 5m and walls of orange and white dead men's fingers appear.

Johnstones Hole -  This is a more substantial dive around a large rock 50m out from the pebble beach. Descending on its shoreward side you drop into 6m of water onto sand. Swimming clockwise around the rock, depth increases to 13m. Walls of vivid dead men's fingers light up the scene, and soon you find the cave that gives the dive its name.  It cuts about 5m into the rock, tapering all the way,

There is usually a seal or two hovering around.

 

!!!Will not be able to Dive the site until after April 2007 as lifting bridge is currently being replaced.!!!!

           

 

Pub:   The Black Bull Inn, or The Volunteer Arms                        

 

Created by:  Chris              

 

Date: 20/03/07                                

 

Thanks To:  PeterM for always letting me be the first to take the leap of faith                       

 

Land photos:

Pebble Beach access/egress

Giant Stride Entry from Harbour Wall

 

Underwater photos:

None

Underwater map/ Sketch:

Some of the other sites at Dunbar, but clearly showing Harbour Reef and Johnstone’s Hole