I do 99.9% of my UK diving with my local club, Lunesdale Sub Aqua, without doubt the best BSAC branch in the Lancaster and Morecambe area. Below is a rough guide to some of the places I have dived in the UK - I haven't updated the numbers of dives for over a year but that's hardly critical (I've got better things to do with my time). You can find more info about some of these sites either from Lunesdale's North West sites page, or a similar page on BSAC's site which I have to admit is far more up-to-date now!
|
Site
|
No. Dives
|
Rating
|
Comments
|
| Abersoch |
11+
|
****
|
Shallow but excellent sites
- no shortage of life, but you need a boat. Swap to the other side of
the peninsula if the weather closes in. |
| Anglesey |
2
|
***(*)
|
Not dived at best of times. Feel it could be a LOT better than when I was there. |
| Capernwray |
33
|
***
|
Excellent training facilities, alright for the occassional hack about too. |
| Coniston Water |
7
|
**
|
Good for training and skill practice. Always make sure your light is charged and you have a spare as below 10-15m it is pitch black. Apparently you should also dive with an SMB of some sort because of boat traffic. |
| Crummock Water |
7
|
**
|
All I remember about the first dive here is how hard it is to shed a semi-dry in a blizzard when you have lost all feeling in your hands (pretty much everywhere else too). Reasonable vis and beautiful surroundings. I have had far more pleasant dives since. |
| Cumbrae |
5
|
***
|
Good variety of shore sites give a dive in almost any weather or tidal conditions. Loads of life. Most sites we used would have been suitable for those having first experience of sea dives. Some pics here. |
| Devil's Bridge |
2
|
***
|
Shallow but interesting dive - good fun, watch out for jumpers from the bridge! |
| Farnes |
4
|
****(*)
|
Brilliant diving, just got the feeling that while it was good there was still some to come. Must go back soon! |
| Hodge Close |
1
|
* or ****
|
Rating depends on your taste - too lifeless for mine, brilliant viz and adventurous entry route make this a must for some. Should only be dived by experienced and appropriately qualified divers at the right time of year (high risk of rock fall after frost!) - extra care is needed when diving here due to difficulty of any rescue - forget the helicopter here, the only people who will get you out are the Mountain Rescue. With that and the altitude in mind, dive conservatively. The rock falls are gradually filling this site in. |
| Isle of Man |
9
|
*****
|
Take me back there now! Some unforgetable dives in the Sugar Loaf Caves! Both great wreck and scenic dives here. If you're going to dive here you'll need some good organisation though. Pics are here and here |
| Loch Long |
4
|
****
|
Good dives with interesting life - most memorable for the incredible fireworks anenomes and congers. |
| Oban |
7
|
****
|
Brill! Would be a 5* if only I hadn't been to the IoM and Strangford which both just (and only just) shade it for me. There is just so much in the area you can find somewhere good to dive whatever the weather. Latest foray in 2006 with pics here. |
| Pembroke |
7
|
****
|
First time there felt it would be much better with viz over 1ft. Second time showed just what it could deliver, although vis could still be better. |
| Roa Island |
7
|
**
|
Variable viz, a little life, slack water only. You need a lot of luck to hit this with any really worthwhile vis (I tired all through 2005 without being able to see anything).. |
| Skye | 12 | ***** | A real five star diving area. More fish than I've seen anywhere else in the UK, plus loads of other life and good vis. We dived with Dive Sea and the Hebrides. I've put some of the pictures I took in the gallery here. |
| Strangford Lough |
8
|
*****
|
First and hopefully not last taste of diving in Ireland.Can't understand why the place wasn't crawling with divers? Good helpful local shop - DV Divers. |
| Tyneside |
3
|
***
|
Good shore diving, launching available, local dive shop runs boats too. Some fantastic wrecks. |
| Ulswater |
3
|
*
|
Great scenery. Diving is muddy and murky. Can find the odd interesting piece in the mud. |
| Wastwater |
8
|
***+
|
Even better scenery than Ulswater. Great viz. Good for training and practice dives. Can get very busy. My favourite lake dive. |