Piper’s Gut, Farne Islands

Photo: Jane Morgan

Drift dive: Piper’s Gut, Farne Islands, Northumberland

Between these rocks is a narrow channel of water known as Piper’s Gut. It is in this area that, on one stormy night in September 1838, the paddle steamer Forfarshire struck Big Harcar with the loss of many passengers and crew. The tragedy is remembered for the role played by Grace Darling and her father, the keeper of the Longstone lighthouse, in the rescue of nine people.

While very little remains of the Forfarshire today, the site where she met her end provides an exciting dive that is suitable for a wide level of abilities.

On a flood tide, some shelter can be gained by dropping in close to the rocky shore of the North Wamses. Descending down the slope and venturing out further into the channel, you soon encounter the strong tidal flow. A number of anchors lay scattered across the bottom. As you drift closer to Piper’s Gut, the water becomes shallower, and the flow becomes faster as the water is funnelled between the rocks; soon the bottom becomes almost a blur, with brief tantalising glimpses of old wreckage covered in marine growth.

The tidal flow at this point can reach several knots, so it is not a dive for the faint-hearted. Once through the channel, the water starts to subside and the prudent diver swims behind the lee of the larger rocks to await pickup by the boat. So there you have it – a drift dive that combines excitement, history and even the possibility of seeing a seal, all in the wild surroundings of the Farnes.