Dive Sites

For dive planning to our regular haunts here are some handy references and helpful stuff that is invaluable.

General Stuff

Locations

Farne Islands, Northumberland

Diving for all grades and experience. Notorious shipping hazard so lots of wrecks. Strong currents in areas so careful planning needed. Lots of seals to play with though and viz can be spectacular in the summer months. Some limited shore diving but you really need a boat to do the job properly. Book accommodation well in advance.

Plymouth, Devon

Claims to be the UK's diving capital and with good reason. Long maritime history litters the area with wrecks. Spectacular reef diving inshore and offshore. Also home to HMS Scylla, the UK's first artificial reef. Lots of hardboats operate out of Plymouth and accommodation is easy at any time of the year. Diving for every grade. Some of the best shore diving in the UK too.

Salcombe, Devon

More advanced diving with deeper wrecks. Has the most wrecked bit of coast in the UK in its mouth with wrecks on top of wrecks. Accommodation expensive. Really a Dive Leader or experienced Sports Diver area.

Sound of Mull, Scotland

A haven for shipping for years, the SOM is a regular haunt. Spectacular wrecks, great wall dives and you can dive the place even in a howling gale. Sports Diver and above to get the best out of the area.

Scapa Flow, Orkneys

The old home fleet base, a huge expanse of water which forms a natural harbour. The German WW1 battle fleet was scuttled here, many of which remain including some huge 26,000 ton battle ships. The block ships in Burra Sound offer amazing viz and life and one of the best drift dives on the planet. 3 wrecks in one dive? Yes please. Sports Diver and above.

Wittering, Sussex

Sports Diver type diving with wrecks and reefs. Tricky access to the sea over shingle beach so make sure you book the boat for the day so you don't have to lug kit about everywhere.

St Abbs, Scotland

Good novice site. Easy shore diving off the harbour wall with plenty of sites withina suface swim. Easier by boat, though!

Menorca, Mediteranean

All shore diving with the occasional boat dive too. Cave and cavern diving with some spectacular easy cave dives. Any level of diver.

Stoney Cove, Leicestershire

Probably the best inland training site in the UK. Depths from 6 to 36m with stuff chucked in to look at. Not worth diving as a "dive" but an excellent kit shakedown or training site. Entrance fees getting pricey now.

Swithland Wood, Leicestershire

Access by special arrangement only. Bell-shaped granite quarry, 50m straight down! Viz excellent, cold though, and dark. Best treated as a night dive, even during the day. No facilities.