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United Kingdom Underwater Photo Sites (7)
Berry Head
(5-40m) The headland marking the end of Lyme Bay. 60m cliffs leading down to the water. Here there are huge boulders and ridges leading down to mud / silt slopes to a dark 40m+, although the best life is in less than 20m.
This site is a mixture of high to low energy giving a great variety of life. This starts as soon as you hit the water with garfish, mackerel & pollack in mid water, on the rocks various anemones, crabs, lobsters, flat fish, wrasse, congers etc. This dive can even begin with a great swim through cave
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Berry Head It is in United Kingdom- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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The Ore Stone
(5-20m) Torbay's biggest & most prominent rock. Lots of rock gullies leading to a muddy bottom, or there is a swim through where you can swim right through the Ore Stone! Fairly high energy site, good for life, lots of crabs (various makes), lobsters, fish, mussels, starfish, anemones, dead men's fingers, nudibranches etc. congers, wrasse, pollack, pout, bass etc.
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Ore Stone- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 10-30 Metres 30-100 Feet.
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The Lord Stewart
(33m) 248ft long, torpedoed by UB-104 in 1918. Stands 9m proud and has an iron prop and a small stern gun. Warning: phosphorus wedges have been found on the wreck, do NOT remove, as they ignite in contact with the air!!!
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Lord Stewart- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-40 Metres 0-130 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 10-30 Metres 30-100 Feet.
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The Dutch Barge
(8m) locally known as 'The Pipes'. The barge is not there anymore, but it's cargo of 20ft iron pipes are. A nice scenic / wreck dive, lots of life living in and around the pipes. Usually good viz.
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about The Pipes/Dutch Barge- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-10 Metres 0-30 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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The Perrone
(30m) 320ft long, torpedoed by UC-65 in 1917. An interesting dive as the wreck lies in two halves, with the stern section lying alongside the starboard side, can be difficult to see the whole wreck on one dive. Some nice swim-throughs on this wreck, can be dark.
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Perrone- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-40 Metres 0-130 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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The Galicia
(18m) 400ft long, hit by a mine in 1917, then 'dispersed' in 1923. As a result she is fairly flat despite coming up to 5m proud of the bottom, but is a large site and a nice dive. Well worth a good rummage, still 'ship shaped' bits to see, various things are still on her (although ideally not removed). Lots of congers, pollack, usual pout, wrasse etc.
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Galecia- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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The Britagne
(28m) 232ft long, sunk in 1918 by being rammed by another ship (you can see the gouge in the starboard side). Sits upright on a shell bottom. A little bit of superstructure, but generally whole. Still has it's prop & rudder, with a spare prop on the stern deck.
Ideal for all levels of diver, whether it's a non-stop 20min dive or a full 60min dive (in 60mins you will see ALL of it). For advanced divers there are some nice penetrations. Lots of fish (and snagged fishing line), HUGE crabs live near the bow.
You can dive this wreck from the dive boat Sunfish. You can contact Mike of Sunfish Charters on 07968-262421 or email click here to email or visit click here Never been on Sunfish before, then check out our Testimonial page on click here
| Facts about Bretagene- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Littleton Lake (AKA pit) has been used by local clubs for training for years.
The viz can get quite reasonable (3M) when (like most freshwater) it hasn't rained recently (and thus carried mulch into the water).
For training it is fantastic year round and many land logged London divers keep their hands in here during the winter. There's a couple of cars and a platform (sunk by Hounslow BSAC 1988-ish).
There are a lot of fishermen and so a lot of fish here. I personally have seen a pike longer than me (5'5') my buddy measured me beside it. I have also seen 6 huge mirror carp in procession. On a good day (late summer) the water's warm and it is a pleasant dive. November is excellent night dive time (especially for divers afraid of the dark as nothing with attack you here!).
It's harder to get in to the little bay now. There used to be so many cars and divers walking kitted up across the blind curve on the busy road that someone closed off the entry point and stopped the parking. Check out the sailing club for the latest info.
| Facts about Littleton Lake- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-10 Metres 0-30 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 0-3 Metres 0-10 Feet.
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Is this is the ultimate UK shore dive?
Drive to the end of Eyemouth caravan park, kit up, and go down the steps. You enter in a sheltered gully but can get some surge.
The gully is a dive in itself but usually you turn right along a wall with plumose anemones, dead mans fingers. Of you're lucky you might see wolf eels, if you're unlucky you'll still see more marine life than anywhere else in the UK!
If you are energetic and the sea is calm you can swim all the way around the headland and get out in the next bay but plan it, don't just decide on speck. Many experienced divers have got into trouble when the sea blows up. If you use the gully you can get in and out in any conditions.
| Facts about Weasel Loch, Eyemoth- It is in United Kingdom
- Weasel Loch, Eyemoth is in the North Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Don't be put off by all the local industrial plants. This bay is a corker and pretty sheltered in most blows.
I dived this with a club squidgey boat. I can't remember the name of the wreck but it was the easiest wreck I've ever found and only 3M at the top. Next to a buioy I think.
Second dive was a drift over a flat seabed. Everyone else though it was crap but if you looked close it was gopping with macro life
| Facts about Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven- It is in United Kingdom
- Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven is in the Irish Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 0-3 Metres 0-10 Feet.
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This was my first 50M dive!
I remember sliding down a fantastic wall, getting narked at 50M and ascending pulling at all the sea pens, which quickly retracted!
On the surface the seals look at you like 'what are you doing' as they sit undisturbed on various rocks. If you're lucky they'll follow you underwater too.
Fantastic stuff
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Swanage pier is the ideal night dive. Even though the pier itself closes at dusk it remains easily accessible from the beach in front of the adjacent yacht club. The marine life on the night shift differs considerably from that found during the day. Even barren ground, such as the sand flats, plays host to flatfish, baby cuttle, and squid.
Tompot BlennyAt night the wall where the hardboats moor is accessible with out the danger of a prop behind the ear, it comes alive with prawns squat lobsters, and tompot blennies.
On one night dive last year I was attracted by the frenetic swinging beam of my buddy’s torch and, upon investigating, discovered the object of his attentions was the largest conger eel I have ever seen! It was inhabiting a discarded drainage pipe that, on a dive earlier that day, I was poking my arm into!
more info here click here
| Facts about Swanage Pier night diving- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-10 Metres 0-30 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 0-3 Metres 0-10 Feet.
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Another popular site at St Abbs is Seagull Rock, which has a large cave cut out of the seaward side. Unlike the well-known Cathedral Rock, this site is best dived at high water, as the lower the state of tide the more slippery rocks you have to negotiate. The best route is to swim out along the sewage pipe that is clearly visible from the car park. Raw sewage is discharged from this pipe so if you use the toilet on the harbour front before your dive there is a very good chance that you will meet anything you put down it again on your way out. Still, the fish seem to like it, so don’t be put off; just keep your DV firmly in your mouth!
Further up the coast, just around St Abbs head, is Petticowick Bay, a picturesque cove boasting a Divers Only car park. Petticowick is reached either by a short drive through the nature reserve, or by boat from St Abbs harbour. This is an interesting site, mostly kelp, but with reefs where rare marine life has been recorded. Probably the most spectacular sights observed here though are the diving seabirds ‘flying’ underwater. This site is completely sheltered from southerly winds and a good alternative to St Abbs at such times
more info here click here
| Facts about St Abbs, Seagull Rock- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Looking for great Pike shots?
Pike may be able to avoid most anglers, but they will usually allow divers to approach and study them, beating a hasty retreat only at the last moment. They are nevertheless frustratingly difficult to capture on film. As an underwater photographer, I have spent much time trying to get the pike shot - you know, the one that is a definitive expression of the popular image. Unfortunately I have not, to my own satisfaction, so far succeeded.
Kevin Cullimore, probably the country’s top freshwater u/w photographer, had long urged me to try my luck at Gildenburgh Water. He recommends a 28mm lens to capture medium to large pike on film - and plenty of patience
more info here click here
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The shore diving is some of the best in Britain. Shore diving is especially good in the vicinity of Bovisand Fort (the old national diving centre) but it is often ignored in favour of the offshore wrecks. However, this area is, in fact, immensely scenic, especially the rock-pools and gullies immediately in front of the bar.
Rockpool Scenic seascapes scenery Devon England Britain tidal
In the shallows, stringweeds such as bootlace weed and throngweed reach to the surface in many places, forming a canopy with the falling tide. See click here
| Facts about Plymouth Shore Diving- It is in United Kingdom
- Plymouth Shore Diving is in the Atlantic.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A bit of a scramble over large shingle wherever you get in. Most divers prefer the shelter at the Portland end. The beach slope quickly (making it tricky to get back onto when you're tired at the end of a dive and the swell pulls you back. It's a bit indignified crawling out on your kneees but at least you know that everyone who has tried managed it!
The marine life ranges from dogfish (yes, they're sharks) to dustbin sized Rhizostoma Pulmo Jellyfish.
There are wrecks too. Park in the Portland rd big car park.
Excellent range of British marine life, wreck, what more do you want!
| Facts about Chesil Beach- It is in United Kingdom
- Chesil Beach is in the Atlantic.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 0-3 Metres 0-10 Feet.
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Great dive site, friendly atmosphere, plenty of fellow divers to help and assist.
Access to Stoney Cove for diving is available to all registered divers during opening hours every day except during the Christmas and New Year holidays. You will find details in the current Stoney Cove Report. All diving projects other than instruction and general sports diving must be declared and agreed with the duty site manager.
stoney cove
sapcote road
stoney stanton
leicestershire
le9 4dw
tel: 01455 273089
| Facts about Stoney Cove- It is in United Kingdom
- The typical depth is 0-40 Metres 0-130 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 10-30 Metres 30-100 Feet.
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St Kilda is widely regarded as the best diving in the UK, and rightly so. It has the wildest, woolliest marine life and, being mid ocean, the sea is blue not the usual UK murky gray!
Kilda is a small group of largely uninhabited islands 150 miles off the West coast of Scotland. There’s a small Military presence in Nissan huts, a couple of million Puffins, and little else.
Kilda is not for most recreational divers. You need an expedition mentality and a good liveaboard to get there. We were on the Jean De La Lune and can highly recommend it. It’s a three masted 100 foot schooner that is ocean worthy. You can dive straight off it most of the time as the walls are sheer the skipper can get in close. You must time your entry with the swell so that the gunwhales are at their lowest. There’s no handing cameras down. Just jump in holding them over your head and hope for the best.
A typical Kilda dive is rugged scenery with boulders the size of houses. There are canyons and caves, the walls of which are covered in jewel anemones (so take a torch). There are sea-mounts and drop-offs. You do a lot of deco diving and hanging on to kelp at 5 metres in swell can be a bit hairy! Delayed SMB’s are the order of the day. Don’t get lost or next stop is Rockall (isolated sea-mount) then Canada!
I remember hearing distant Killer Whales on dives, and once being surrounded by a massive shoal of Mackerel. It was the weirdest low viz situation I’ve had. Usually the viz is 10-20M, as evidenced by the kelp growing down to 30M+.
Fishing here means dangling a line in the water and reeling it in. You get a dozen fish out every cast, even without bait! That’s how profuse the life is. It gets big too. Lobsters too large for your goody bag (too large to wrestle even).
Seals that like to nibble your fins often buzz you. They don’t see many divers. If you’re looking for Best Of British – this is it!
| Facts about St Kilda- It is in United Kingdom
- St Kilda is in the Atlantic.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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