So its a while since i’ve posted on here. Been quite busy with work. However this weekend and one a few ago my dad came down to Dorset where I’ve been working this month to do some diving. 2 days of diving with Diver’s Down on Swanage Pier, this is what I thought…
Couple of Weekends Ago….
Saturday - Black Hawk & Durdle Door
To catch the slack tide the day started at 5 to get on the boat for just after 7 and we where taken to the first dive site for the day, the Back Hawk. An old wreck thats been blown up several times in the past to make way for pipework. There’s about half of it left, but its scattered over the seabed. It sits in about 18metres of water near Lulworth Cove on a sandy bottom. Not a lot to see other than the wreck, life was very sparse.
After a surface interval we headed around to Durdle Door. It was to be a drift dive starting from the door, heading around to Man Of War with the current. The max depth was about 19metres, mostly sandy bottom with boulders interspaced. Other than seaweed in the shallower depths there wasn’t much else apart from the occasional crab.
Saturday - Black Hawk & Durdle Door
To catch the slack tide the day started at 5 to get on the boat for just after 7 and we where taken to the first dive site for the day, the Back Hawk. An old wreck thats been blown up several times in the past to make way for pipework. There’s about half of it left, but its scattered over the seabed. It sits in about 18metres of water near Lulworth Cove on a sandy bottom. Not a lot to see other than the wreck, life was very sparse.
After a surface interval we headed around to Durdle Door. It was to be a drift dive starting from the door, heading around to Man Of War with the current. The max depth was about 19metres, mostly sandy bottom with boulders interspaced. Other than seaweed in the shallower depths there wasn’t much else apart from the occasional crab.
Sunday - Kyarra & Peveril Ledges Drift
Another early start to get on whats supposed to be the best wreck in Swanage. Kyarra is just outside the bay, sat in 28-30 metres of water. We were put on the wreck way too early, the tide was still really running all the way till the end of the dive. Had to hold onto the shot all the way down then hold onto the wreck to stop being pulled away. The vis was pretty rubbish too. Didn’t really see a lot other than the deck as we stayed near to the shot due to the conditions.
The second dive was even worse, was a drift dive over the bay, but the skipper insisted that everyone put up DSMB’s as we left the boat to make it easier to track us. Although would have made a nice drift dive if there was something to see as the current was running nicely so no swimming was needed. Saw a few crabs and some scallops.
Another early start to get on whats supposed to be the best wreck in Swanage. Kyarra is just outside the bay, sat in 28-30 metres of water. We were put on the wreck way too early, the tide was still really running all the way till the end of the dive. Had to hold onto the shot all the way down then hold onto the wreck to stop being pulled away. The vis was pretty rubbish too. Didn’t really see a lot other than the deck as we stayed near to the shot due to the conditions.
The second dive was even worse, was a drift dive over the bay, but the skipper insisted that everyone put up DSMB’s as we left the boat to make it easier to track us. Although would have made a nice drift dive if there was something to see as the current was running nicely so no swimming was needed. Saw a few crabs and some scallops.
This Weekend Just Gone…
Saturday - Venezuela & Fleur De Lys
A wreck in the channel between Swanage & Isle of Wight. Sat in 28 metres the Venezuela was a 64metre cargo steamer carrying coal. The vis was absolutely shocking, most 2metres, sometimes less. Apparently theres loads of fish on this one, but couldn’t see even if there was. Ok dive, but is probably a lot better in better vis.
The second dive, after a rushed swap around back on the pier was the Fleur De Lys. A French crabber sat in 13 metres, the vis not a lot better and very broken up. Theres a rope running on the seabed from the Floor De Lys to another wreck sat upright next to it. This is alot more intact and can swim through the hold. Not a lot of life again but made an interesting dive.
Saturday - Venezuela & Fleur De Lys
A wreck in the channel between Swanage & Isle of Wight. Sat in 28 metres the Venezuela was a 64metre cargo steamer carrying coal. The vis was absolutely shocking, most 2metres, sometimes less. Apparently theres loads of fish on this one, but couldn’t see even if there was. Ok dive, but is probably a lot better in better vis.
The second dive, after a rushed swap around back on the pier was the Fleur De Lys. A French crabber sat in 13 metres, the vis not a lot better and very broken up. Theres a rope running on the seabed from the Floor De Lys to another wreck sat upright next to it. This is alot more intact and can swim through the hold. Not a lot of life again but made an interesting dive.
Overall our experience diving in Swanage has not been a good one, the parking to expensive and rammed on the pier, theres not a lot of life and you feel like its run more for the money than for actual divers benefit. However with simple dives and pretty well managed would suit beginners or groups well. If you live above London its probably not worth the drive, go north instead or further south! Will probably not be in a rush to dive down here again!
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