Diving with the Farne Island seals - Video
Farne Islands underwater - By Allie Crawford
The Farne Island archipelago lies approximately three miles off the Northumberland coastal town of Seahouses. Although renowned as an early Christian settlement and home of St Aiden and St Cuthbert, it also has a well-deserved reputation as a rich haven for sea life. With more than 182 species of birds, including some 35,000 pairs of puffins, a colony of 3-4000 rare Atlantic grey seals and a multitude of other marine life, these islands remain one of Britain's gems of the natural world and a magnet for ornithologists, photographers and divers.
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| Atlantic grey seals can be very inquisitive. |
Diving in the Farne Islands
Diving in the Farne Islands is memorable with many great wrecks scattered around the islands testifying to the treachery of the rocks. In addition, a diver will almost certainly encounter some of the local seal colony during a dive.
The seals' curiosity and playful nature draw them to investigate visiting divers; it is common for inquisitive young seals to interact playfully with divers and even nibble on their fins as they swim by. The Farne Islands are one of the best places in the UK to interact with wild seals, providing a unique experience that will rival any top dive site around the world.
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With bitterly numbing water temperatures that can plummet to just 4oC in the winter months, diving the Farnes is not for the fainthearted. The best time is during the June & July, when the water temperature can reach 14oC and the diving conditions are less challenging. The waters around the archipelago are amongst the clearest in the country and this contributes to make the area a popular dive site.
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| By Allie Crawford |
Crustaceans, anemones and soft corals
Aside from the gregarious seal colony, the Farne Islands have a vast array of life underwater. Rocks are covered in a myriad of crustaceans, anemones and soft corals such as dead men's fingers. Crabs, lobsters and conger eels hide in the cracks and crevices and the seafloor is covered in sea urchins and starfish.
There are also several unusual species that have made the islands their home, including the wolf fish, lumpsucker, Norwegian topknot, Yarrell's blenny and scorpion fish. In the shallows, long fronds of kelp sway, providing a home for fish such as young cod, herring and mackerel.
The Farne Islands National Nature Reserve is an area of outstanding beauty with its dramatic scenery and a dazzling array of colourful marine life. The wealth of natural treasures both beneath the waves and on land make the islands a truly unique wildlife sanctuary. The staggering number of birds and grey seals in their natural habitat is a joy to behold, providing a memorable experience that will last a lifetime.
| Farne Island seals video |
