DIVE SITES AND DIVING DETAILS
1.
Hummock Point. 50 minutes SE of English Bay, about 150 metres from the point is a good
drop-off reef. The top of the reef is about 12 metres and the bottom of the reef wall about 22
metres in sand which slopes off to deeper water. Plenty of small tunnels and caverns with a large
variety of Grouper, Eels and Jack; dolphins can also be seen.
2.
Bay South of Porpoise Point. 10 minutes north of Hummock Point. A sheltered bay in 9
metres, ideal to use up air remaining from a deeper dive. Sand and rock gullies with clinker
deposits. Plenty of fish of all species to be seen.
3.
Porpoise Point. 30 minutes to the SE of English Bay. Just off the headland is a group of
rocks breaking the surface; these drop down to 18 metres producing large gullies and caverns. If
you anchor at the edge of the rocks to the SW and descend the anchor line, turn right at the first
large gully, swim to the end and turn left, there is a large cavern which is home to a large variety of
fish and crayfish, the colours displayed are incredible.
4.
Ladies Loo. 25 minutes from English Bay to the SE. About 200 metres out from the shore
there is a sloping reef running east to west, depths about 10–18 metres dropping deeper. Flat
rocks with occasional holes and gullies with some clinker deposits.
5.
Kettles Cove. 15 minutes to the SE of English Bay. About 200 metres from the western
edge of the cove lies a deep reef sloping quickly to over 30 metres on the seaward side. There is a
large overhang and gullies leading to sand areas. Plenty of large ocean fish to be seen; also, a
large turtle was seen by some of the divers, swimming out to the open water. The reef top is about
12 metres deep.
6.
North Point – Powerhouse Reef. 10-15 minutes to the east of English Bay. About 250
metres out from a small calm there is a drop-off reef running NW-SE. The top of the reef is about
12 metres and drops to 27 metres to a sand area which slopes steeply to greater depths. At the 20
metre area there are caves, gullies and large overhangs; plenty of large ocean fish to be seen.
Large Baracuda seen at this location.
7.
Wreck Site – Sudan and Tortoise. About 15 minutes to the east of English Bay. About 150
metres out from a small calm in about 9 metres to the top of the reef dropping deeper to seaward.
The metal remains of a wreck strewn everywhere, with a large anchor; however, found mixed with
this was copper sheeting and deck pins which gave the signs of a wooden wreck; this was thought
to be that of HMS Tortoise. HMS Tortoise was a wooden ship stationed at Ascension between
1848-1952, when it was then wrecked. The Sudan, however, was a larger metal ship at 1567 tons
which was wrecked on 5 February 1892. An excellent area with plenty to explore and I am sure
with many artefacts still to be found. Like all wrecks, covered with fish of all species.
8.
Triangles. 6 minutes to the east of English Bay. 150 metres out in front of navigational
triangles in about 7 to 15 metres. This is a sheltered area with gullies and caves which slope to
deeper water in to sand areas.
9.
Eddies Gully. This is a boat or shore dive location. It is located at the point to the right hand
side, looking out to sea from England Bay. To carry out a shore dive you have to walk or drive to a
small cove to the south of the beach area where the cooling water from the power station is
discharged. It takes about 10 -12 minutes to snorkel out to the point. The depth ranges from about
9-15 metres with gullies, cavern and caves. The dive is completed by returning to the aqualung.
10.
English Bay. A good site, usually calm offering various shore dive locations:
a.
Reef Area. About 100-150 yards out from the powerhouse beach area is a small reef
which is in 2 parts with a gap in the middle. The reef rises to just under the surface, which causes
the waves to break on the seaward side. The depth ranges from 9-15 metres with the inner side
level at 9 metres. Plenty of gullies and caverns, with large shoals of fish.
b.
Derby Wreck. This is a small metal freighter that carried Bird Guano. It lies on the
inner left hand side of the reef looking seaward in about 9 metres. There are various metal plates
and pipe work with the longest part being the boiler which stands proud. It lies close to the rocks
which have other gullies and small caves to explore.
c.
Lifeboat Wreck. This is the remains of a small metal lifeboat from the Derby, which lies
close to the shore in 3 metres. It lies on the sand in a circular depression in the rocks form deep
overhangs giving good areas to explore.
d.
Guano Jetty. This is a small concrete jetty on the left hand side of English Bay looking
seaward. It is normally a sheltered area making a good shore dive location. The entry into the
water is by jumping 2-3 metres near the jetty to 15 metres heading south. The bottom consists of
rock gullies and sand, and the exit fro the water is by rope and rock steps on the SE side of the
jetty. This site makes a good night dive.
14. White Wreck. 10 minutes to the west of English Bay. A large rock covered in bird droppings,
depth range from 15-20 metres sloping deeper seawards. Under the face of the rock in about 12
metres running east is a large cavern. Once in the cavern turn south into a large cave which leads
to a large circular blow hole.
15. Pyramid Point. 23 minutes from English Bay, to the south near the satellite tracking dish.
There are large rocks, caves and caverns; depths range from 7 metres close to shore, dropping
steep to a drop – off reef at 24 metres on to the sand. This is also a shore dive; by landrover it
takes 15 minutes from English Bay – follow the track past the tracking dish, parking on the clear
ground near the edge. This gives access to two sites; Pyramid Point and Comfortless Cove. In
Comfortless Cove near Pyramid Point lies the wreck of HMS Meander which lies on the sand area
in 11 metres of water. All that remains of the wreck is wood, spars and large deck pins protruding
from the sand. This wreck can be shore dived from Pyramid Point or from Comfortless Cove.
16. Comfortless Cove. 25 minutes from English Bay to the SW. A cove used for swimming with
a safety rope across its mouth. From the cove heading out to sea are underwater cables running
vertical to the beach. Depths range up to 11 metres at the point where the wreck of HMS Meander
lies. The underwater terrain is mostly sparse rock formations leading on to the sand and clinker. Up
from the beach area, hidden in a small valley, is a small cemetery which dates to 1838, when HMS
Bonelta brought yellow fever to the Island. It was here that victims were quarantined, and supplies
were brought from Georgetown and left near the beach. It was during this period that it became
known as Comfortless Cove.
17 Clarence Bay. The areas dived were directly out from Georgetown Jetty, 30 minutes SW
from English Bay.
a. Reef Area. To the inside right of the SPAR Buoy about ¾ - 1 mile out from the jetty where
the sand meets the rock area, large rock formations form deep gullies and a drop-off reef.
Depths range from 16 to 27 metres dropping steeply to greater depths. Between the rock
formations are sand gullies which stretch under the overhangs of the reef and into the caves.
There are plenty of large Grouper, Eels and Ocean Jacks to be seen.
Transits for the Reef Area are:
(1)
RIGHT HAND
Small fuel Tank on Water Front
(2)
Radar Golf Ball near Wideawake
LEFT HAND
SAND
Black and White Pole on Cross Hill
Observation Post above White
Sand Patch to right of RH Gun on
Cross Hill
b.
China Wreck. This is a Steel wreck strewn over a large area on top of the reef in a
depth of 15-20 metres. The area is covered with steel plates and girders with quite a few large
anchors lying at various locations. Under the wreckage is the remains of the China pottery that the
wreck gets its name from. The wreck is full of large Moray Eels of various species which makes
exploring rather difficult. A good area for marine life and large fish near the wreck; one of the team
spotted a shark while looking over the side trying to locate the wreck.
Transits for the China Wreck are:
(1)
RIGHT HAND
Right Hand Large Fuel Tank
Radar Golf ball closest to coast
(2) MIDDLE
Hut to the Left of Fort Thornton in the Hollow of the Rocks in the Shoreline.
Name:
Location:
Time from English Bay:
Eddies-Gullies
North point of Ascension Island to the right of English Bay
2 minutes from Guano Jetty
Description of site:
This site could be used as a shore dive or boat dive. The site is on the right hand point of English
Bay. For a shore dive enter from small beach to right of the main beach 10-12 mins snorkel out to
site and return to exit access suitable for night dives, there is a submerged marker line in front of
main archway which can be used to mark site for night diving. The depth changes from 9 to 15
metres within the gullies and caverns and most interesting areas however 20 metres is easily
found further seaward. A very interesting area with lots of marine life.
Name:
Location:
Distance from English Bay:
Description of the wreck:
Wreck of the SUDAN
North point of Ascension island, to the right of English Bay.
10 minutes
A large metal ship of 1567 tons.
Description of site:
This wreck lies close inshore in depths ranging from 6 to 16 metres and is very broken up, it went
down in 1892 and was built in Glasgow in 1885. The wreckage is strewn over a wide area however
the reef itself is very scenic with a large gully to the left is a natural rock amphitheatre and to the
right there is a wall with a cave. The fish life is prolific in this area including some rather large
moray eels. All of the attractions of this dive can be seen without exceeding 21 metres, beware of
the swell when in the shallower regions of the gully or reef.
Name:
Location:
Distance from English Bay:
‘Triangles’
North point of Ascension Island, to the right of English Bay.
5 minutes
Description of site:
Once out of the bay lying onshore by the BBC complex can be seen two triangular shaped boards,
place the boat in line with the left facing shoreward can be seen a large prominent rock which runs
onto the sea just below the surface. In this area are many caves, overhangs and gullies in a
maximum depth of 15 metres, beware of the swell as most of this dive is shallow.