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Dive Sites |
 There
are many dive centres in Wales where you can get air for your dives. The
whole of the coastline and many of the lakes are worth diving, watch out for
currents.
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Emergency Tel: |
999 and ask for the Coastguard or direct: 01646-690909 (Milford Haven) or north of Borth 01407-762051 | |
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New Quay streets - walking down to the beach
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Other contacts:
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Typical coastal scenery:
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Aberystwyth harbour: |
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| NORTH WALES | ||
| Anglesey Cemas Bay |
Last updated - May 1997 by 'Anorak' Dogs Breath Diver. |
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We were diving for an hour and only saw 3 fish and some fry. We followed the right hand cliff from the car park, just after the tide started out. No current, only a slight swell. Facilities - Toilets. Use the far, small car park as the larger one charges more. Not worth another
visit. Not worth the first really !
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| Trearddur Bay, Anglesey |
Last updated - August 1998 by 'Anorak, Dogsbreath Diver. |
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| MID WALES | ||
| Dorrethea |
Last updated by the Down Under Club - February 2000 |
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The site is currently being developed into a full dive centre and is closed. (note- the owner can't get planning
permission from the local authorities and is permanently closed.
Dogsbreath, Aug 2001) Depth, Shelves at 20+m, 40m and 110m. Viz -2m - 8m. Air - None on site. If you walk down the slope and turn right once in the water you will see cars and a crane still on rails before it drops off to over 40m. Alternatively the old houses and a through tunnel are around 25m if you head across the water. |
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| Aberystwyth |
Last updated - July 2001 by 'Anorak' Dogs Breath Diver. |
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 The
local BS-AC dive Aberystwyth Pier. In fact, many divers dive it, so it
should be good but we don't have any details.
Clarach Bay, Abrerystwyth. Road access right to the gently sloping pebble beach. Chip shop, pub, launderette and dodgems there too. Caravans and chalets for hire. No diving information. The Coast Guard says the water is usually as flat as a pancake in the summer. |
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Last dived in 2003 by: jimpalmer1@hotmail.com |
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| Borth, near Aberystwyth | The diving round Borth is poor, vis maybe 1 to 2 metres if it's been settled for a week or so but saying that I've had some nice dives under the cliffs big gregs and chanels, but Aberystwyth is not too bad. Some nice diving round by the old castle, none of the depths are good maybe 10mt max at Abber, Borth 6 mt tops. | |
Clarach Bay, Aberystwyth |
We understand that there is a reef within a hundred metres of shore which goes several miles out to sea. There are also many military wrecks out there. Please send us your dive logs. |
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SOUTH WALES, Pontsticill, Welsh Water - Dwr Cymru |
Last updated - May 1997 |
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A large reservoir set in a wooded valley in
the Brecon Beacons National Park. Depth - " not very deep". Viz - "OK" says the non diver. Dive by arrangement only. Must be part of a group and members of WASAC/BASAC. Winter diving ONLY (because of the fishermen). Air - None on site. Of Interest - Fish and submerged buildings at low water level. Site of archaeological interest revealed at low water level. Serious danger of deep mud. Dive Contact - 01495 769281. Facilities - 2 car Parks. 
For the non diver: Sailing, Board sailing, Canoeing, Paths and trails, Picnic areas, Viewpoints, Conservation, Brecon Mountains railway at southern shore. |
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Cardigan Island
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No diving details, but the island is home to a colony of Atlantic Grey Seals. If you want to you can view pups from the hill top from September - October. Non-divers can visit the Costal Farm Park at Gwbert. The island is 200 yards offshore and is a nature reserve owned by the West Wales Wildlife Trust. |
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St Davids |
Last updated 8/97 by 'Caver Colin' Dogsbreath Diver |
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Pembrokeshire. Enter from the lifeboat station slipway at St Justinians. Walk into the water under the new slipway. (Take your compass bearing now!). Swim out a short way then descend to about 5m. Swim away from the shore along a weedy bottom and around the boat moorings. Plenty of Wrasse, crabs, some Gobys and small eels. Beware of going deeper than 14m - 15m as there are strong currents running parallel to the shore line which get very strong if you go further out. It's a long walk back up the steps at the end of the dive. Viz - 8m. Of Interest - Reefs, walls, gullies, drift dives and Wrecks: * SS Amazon Ense, wrecked 1881. 8m to 20m depth. * SS Nimrod Paddle Steamer, wrecked 1860,.18m - 30m. * Schooner Frederick, wrecked 1833. * SS Langdon Grange, wrecked 1909. 20m- 45m. * SS Lucy, wrecked 1967. 33m. Still intact. * SS St George Paddle Steamer wrecked 1850. 10m. * SS Graffoe, wrecked 1908. 18m. * SS Whitehaven, wrecked 1879 * SS Count D'Aspremont 1874 to 1903. 28m |
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Llandegfedd, Welsh Water - Dwr Cymru, |
Last updated - May 1997. |
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A large reservoir set in the beautiful rolling landscapes of east Gwent.
Filled by the river Usk so it can be murky after heavy rain. Peat bottom,
so keep your fins away. Depth - 32m, stepped 6m to 12m to 22m. Viz - 4m
average to nil if you fin much.
Directions - East of Pontypool, near Coed-y-pean. Dive Contact - David Summers 01633 279246 Other Contacts - Rangers, 01291 673722. Winter - 01495 755122. Sailing School - 01291 673002 Cost - Negotiable around nil. Use own boat. Dive by arrangement only. Must be part of a group and members of WASAC/BASAC/recognised registered association. Restricted area for diving. Boat needed for safety cover. All year diving but only weekend in winter and Tuesday and Wednesday in the summer months. Nature conservation area. Air - None on site.There are 2 dive areas in the summer and Doctors' Bay. The latter is a sloping entry but they usually use a boat from the other side due to fishermen. There are underwater cables.
Facilities - Toilets and changing rooms. Refreshment kiosk in Eastern car
park and a shop at the sailing school for permit holders. |
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Llanishen / Lisvane, Dwr Cymru Reservoir. |
Last updated - May 1997 |
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Owned by Welsh Water. Directions - Off the B4562, Lisvane Road. Outskirts of Cardiff. Dive Contact - Chris Charles - 01222 567978 = local dive club. Other Contacts - 01495 769281 - Hamdden office. Viz - usually clear. Cost - Negotiable ! Diving by arrangement only. Must be members of WASAC / BASAC. Winter diving only.
Facilities - Car Parks are for permit holders only. Other activities include: Sailing, walking, bird watching. Also a site of Special Scientific Interest due to over wintering wildfowl. Reservoir grounds managed for conservation including ponds, woodlands, hedgerows and wild flower meadows. |
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| Llwyn On/Garwnant, Welsh Water - Dwr Cymru. |
Last updated - May 1997. |
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A large reservoir in the Brecon Beacons National Park, surrounded by
woodland. Directions - Off A470(T). Dive Contact - Activity Centre 01495 723060. Viz - Usually clear in summer. Cost - Negotiable. Dive by arrangement only. Must be part of a group and members of WASAC / BASAC Restrictions - WINTER ONLY. A zoned dive area is in the South West corner. Of Interest: Underwater ruins. Visitor Centre open 7 days. |
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| Llyn Brenig, Welsh Water - Dwr Cymru. |
Last updated - May 1997 |
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A large lake (2 miles by 1 mile) surrounded by heather moorland and
spruce
forests. Their leaflet states diving is allowed, but the details for the
lake do not mention it. They have had a few dive enquiries but no divers
yet (5/97). Jimmy is a tenant of one leg of the lake, but doesn't know if
he can authorise diving. N.B. Welsh Water (Hamdden is the recreational arm
of Welsh water) seem to consider a tenant as having full recreational
sporting rights. The dam wall is 1 mile wide. Directions - South west of Denbigh, off the B4501 (via A543). Dive Contact - 01490 440408 Jimmy Shaw (Celtic Adventure Ltd) or try Dave Scutter 01490 420463 for the northern area. Other Contacts - 01490 440408 - Hamdden office. The dam is 151 feet high and 690 full. (May 1997).
Viz- Clay
bottom. Sometimes very silty but usually clear if no wind. Cost - £6 if a
boat is used. Probably £4.00 but negotiable. Dive by arrangement only and
you must be members of WASAC/BASAC. |
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St Davids - Porth Clias Harbour, Pembrokeshire. |
Shore dive - Not a dive for the unfit ! Last updated by Caver Colin August 1997 |
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This is actually a river estuary. Enter down the boat
slipway, surface swim along the river, past the harbour entrance. Swim
left to a large rock then descend to 4m. Fin out through lots of gullies
with large weeds etc. Lots of fish, sea urchins, starfish, large edible
and Spider crabs, quite large lobsters. Do not go deeper than 14m - 15m as
there are strong currents sweeping across from left to right. Return to
harbour entrance, then comes the hard bit ! Swim or walk back up the river
depending on the tide. When the tide is out you can walk up it in 1m of
water for about 600m to the slipway. Dive Contact- St Davids Scuba Diving Centre - 01437 721788. |
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Don't bother going for a dive here in May or if you want some depth. Depth 5m. Gradual slope. Viz - 2m/6ft
to nil.
Only 4m when the tide is out. Viz 6m-9m. Don't park on the yellow
lines as the traffic wardens visit regularly! Go up the hill and turn left. Always use an SMB,
although it's our experience the boat owners don't know what it's for!
