St Abbs Coast Rescue
 St Abbs lies just to the north of Eyemouth and is perched high on the cliff overlooking the north sea. Its small picturesque harbours mask the dangers of the tempest of the North sea and hits history lies hidden to the fact.
The harbour became developed in the 1830's when a local Edinburgh brewery created the harbour for a fishing station however it was initially built a mile south of St Abbs in Coldingham shore.
The name St Abbs is derived from the times a Northumbrian Princess called Ebba was shipwrecked on the headland now known as St Abbs. There are many local stores around St Abbs, one of which is that local nuns used to bath in the sea in the bay, their modesty protected by a wheeled device that allowed them to enter and leave the sea unobserved. Another one says that due to the goings on between the Nuns and the Monks the rewards were that the Priory was burnt down in 679 by lightning.
By the 1800's St Abbs had become a busy fishing port however it must have taken some imagination and sheer mindedess due to the fact that there are sharp rocks adorning the coast all around its entrances maybe why this is that the main building in the harbour is that of the Lifeboat station.
The lighthouse built in 1862 was built by one of the greatest names in Scots history, that of David & Thmas Stevenson and its neighbour adds to this testimony - that of the Bell rock.
Diving and fishing are the main types of recreation found at St Abbs, with its small fishing fleet running daily out of harbour to lay and recover creels. Local dive boats also ply the harbour with the occasional club dive boat also visiting. There are many wrecks in the vicinity of the Berwickshire and East Lothian coastlines and these dives can extend well below the saturation dives of the most hardy divers so great care must be excercised.
If you find yourself in any difficulty your first call should by the Forth Coastguard on VHF Ch16, mobile phone or PLB - The bends can strike at any time so if in any doubt contact the Coastguard or your local hospital explaining that you have just recently returned from diving.
There is a Coastguard team here at St Abbs and they are assisted by the Eyemouth or Dunbar teams when necessary. One of the Coastguard team member from St Abbs also has the St Vedas surf shop and hotel (also a surf webcam) please dont forget to drop in and say a hello to him - He has a wealth of informtion should you need anything answering and if he doesnt Im sure that he will contact us to find it out.
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