Finding beautiful agate underwater in East Scotland

Agates are beautiful gemstones found all over Scotland. The Tayside and Angus regions are especially good places for these stunning gems. I went freediving / snorkelling from my kayak and found some nice agate. I cut them on a diamond blade tile saw. I love finding agates. The process of rockhounding and lapidary is an obsession
Pictures on Insta / tomashton_outdoors

[@adventuresofascotsman9090]

What a find! I was obsessed with crystals and a kid and have passed on my collection to my 5 year old who is desperate to go find some now after watching these videos! 👍

[@gonza-fish5280]

Hi Tom, great stuff. Awesome, beautiful colours! Like47

[@powerporridge1337]

Nice one Tom, wouldn't mind to see the boring polishing part either 😎🤙

[@CoastlineFishing]

Awesome, beautiful colours! The stuff the sea holds 👍🏼

[@raulbora]

Very cool Tom!

[@marcellodelira5601]

Cool stuff, matey👍🏼I wish the sea around Felixtowe where I live was so lovely clear like that. Cheers

[@tjashton]

Thanks! It’s almost never clear on the East of Scotland either. Sometimes it comes good.

[@dodmac1]

st Abbs head down in the borders is a good spot- and the cheviots.

[@tjashton]

Agates at St Abbs? I have never looked there. It’s an old favourite spot for diving

[@tomknight5478]

I've always wanted to try this... in a way I'm glad it wasn't just plain sailing for you as then I would be very jealous! I'll tell you a secret - despite people regularly picking it over, it is possible to find a good few agates at Usan if you are cunning and you know how and where to look. They are not all large but the small ones can be very intricate. I usually just take a good pair of wellies and time my visits to be there for low tide. I always think that there must be loads of big ones down there under the water, but there's normally some silt at Usan which makes finding agates amongst the shingle filled gullies and rockpools pretty tricky! Even if you stir it up to try and get a better look, the water simply goes all cloudy and within a few minutes it all settles again exactly as before. You will have to try again right after a big winter storm. That's usually a good bet! Well, you got a good sized agate there - and very well spotted! You obviously have some experience and not a little patience to find one that well disguised! Often the larger agates from Usan have a quartz centre as you discovered.

[@tjashton]

Thanks! I’ve been thinking of a campaign to explore the underwater parts of the gullies. Maybe just by going on a big spring tide and digging about - or waiting for clear water and snorkelling again. Either way the silt will be a challenge!

[@Bf5-clips]

Love the vids

[@tjashton]

Thanks. More coming soon…

[@jamesmonoghan1281]

You want the dry agates inland, right along the edges of the Sidlaws below the limestone cliffs, where there's no sea damage. Spring time is best.

[@tjashton]

Interesting! I will have a look. Thank you!

[@jamesmonoghan1281]

Black Hill in Collace was my favorite as a kid just for the easier access but most if not all of the hills there are a treasure trove for quartz collectors.

[@duinteriors]

Brilliant video!!!!!…I now need a wetsuit!

[@tjashton]

Thanks! Maybe time to treat yourself 😀

[@alexmontrose8971]

you should give the beaches in Lunan Bay close to the Boddin a try, I've picked up lots of agates there.

[@tjashton]

Thanks. I would like to return and try those places when I get a chance!

[@germanshepherdGCampbell]

"it`s not super exciting"......... Yep.

[@Andyandyclark]

Great stuff,Tom! What mm of wetsuit do you use for around the St Andrews/ Arbroath ? Iv always had a dry suit for scallops on the west coast but looking to change. Ta

[@tjashton]

Sorry for slow reply. I use 8mm open cell apnea suit all year round. A bit overkill in summer but still comfy

[@Andyandyclark]

@@tjashton Cheers.

[@matthewanderson2815]

Epic idea! And a great success! Are there other locations it would be less silted up on the seabed?

[@tjashton]

Not sure. This was a very normal and minor amount of silt, but enough to make agate hunting hard. Maybe a more tidal place - but then Usan is a real agate hotspot so other places probably have less treasure!

[@allansaunders5007]

Tom how much it would cost me to get you to free dive and clear some big snags of kead fishing for me up here in usan mate

[@tjashton]

I’d come and have a go for you - the wether at the moment is awful so the chances of success are zero. If the water clears I’d be up for it

[@allansaunders5007]

@tjashton aww superb Tom the mark I'm talking is literally 2 mins from the thus mark you snorkeled a will keep in touch with you mate

[@allansaunders5007]

Are these worth money tom a live here in arbroath and fish all around boddin usan etc etc from the shore a have seen 100s of these and never even gave them a thought mate haha

[@tjashton]

I don’t think they’re worth anything much. But I’ve never tried to sell them. It’s just a hobby. Loads of them here in Dundee too (not as good as Usan)

[@B_27]

Nice agates, shame you don't know how to pronounce the name correctly.

[@tjashton]

Which name? Usan? Help me out then…

[@B_27]

@@tjashton Agate. You are pronouncing it incorrectly... It is pronounced "ag-et" not "a-gate"

[@alexmontrose8971]

it's pronounced oozin.@@tjashton