How to use our interactive dive site chart
Click on the ‘View larger map’ icon in the chart below to find popular dive sites, select the depth range you wish to dive and then click on the wreck. There is a link from each dive site to its own page where you will find everything you need to know about diving there.
Please note that Newbury Scuba Diving Club cannot be held responsible for any incorrect data relating to these dive sites. Every diver/dive manager is responsible for checking the accuracy of the data themselves prior to commencing their own diving activity by using appropriate charts, tidal flow information and other approved reference materials.
South Coast launching Sites
Boatyard at Ferrybridge Marina, Weymouth DT4 9JZ. Launching only
The RIB is often stationed here for the diving season. The marina is just South of the Ferrybridge bridge at the north end of the causeway. There is a shared car park with watersports/café which gets very busy in the summer. Buy your day ticket from the boatyard as this is much cheaper than feeding the machine. There are no toilet facilities at the boatyard but there are public toilets 400m South on the causeway which are best used before you go to the boatyard.
You can take your car into the boatyard to drop off your dive kit by the RIB but it must be parked outside of the gates during the day. Click here for a link to the Ferrybridge Marina website
Swanage Pier – Swanage, Peveril Point Road, BH19 2BB. Launching and shore dives
Swanage Pier is often used for a first open water dive in the sea as there is masses of marine life living on and around the pier supports. Max depth 6 metres.
Facilities include public toilets about 150 metres along the road from the pier, toilets on the pier (if you pay for pier entrance) and air and Nitrox fills (often very slow) at Divers Down www.diversdownswanage.co.uk, tel: 01929 423565). There are cafés and food vans in the vicinity.
Chesil Beach, Brandy Row, Portland. Shore dives.
There are some very good (10m deep) shore dives that can be had off Chesil Beach when the wind is from the east or north. Kit can be dropped off at the turning area at the end of Brandy Row, Portland and then it is a short, but steep walk down the pebbles to the sea. For more information on diving at Chesil beach, go to the Underwater Explorers web site www.underwaterexplorers.co.uk/chesil/ which has all the information you need.
Kimmeridge Bay BH20 5PF. Launching and shore dives
This sheltered bay can be used either to launch the boat or as a shore dive. There is a series of shallow reefs running out from the bay with lots of life. Important: you must use a SMB at Kimmeridge due to the amount of boat traffic.
Once you are close to Kimmeridge follow the road up a steep hill and onto the ranges, turn left down the hill, round the bend at Steeple Leaze Farm, past the turning to Steeple church and take the next right to Kimmeridge and the sea. Just keep following the road through the village, past the toll booth (opens about 8.30am) until you come to the car park signpost – ignore this and take the second track on the right. Park on the grass about 100m from the toilet block. There are toilets at the car park (and external tap with screw-thread nozzle), but no other facilities apart from an occasional ice cream van! The slip is about 100m beyond the toilet block. The Lulworth Ranges are open to the public most weekends. For information about the range opening times, see www.access.mod.uk and search for Lulworth Ranges, tel: 01929 404819.
West Bay DT6 4ER. Launching only
There is a good new slipway at West Bay which enables easy access for RIBs to dive the wrecks in Lyme Bay. The slip is difficult to use when there is a large swell from the South.
At West Bay after 100m the road bears sharp right, leading to the old harbour. The road continues around the right hand side of the harbour, which is the route to the new slipway. Check where to meet with the Dive Manager. The long-term car park on the left as you enter West Bay is much cheaper than those by the harbour and has good toilet facilities.
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy DT5 1SA. Launching only
All boats and cars need to register at Reception as a group. Launch and parking fees are competitive; facilities (toilets, showers, changing, bar, café, wash-down hoses, etc, all close to the car park) are good. Three slip ways, one usable at all states of tide, and lots of pontoons for mooring. No gas. O-Three nearby. Avoid Regatta weekends (check website www.wpnsa.org.uk, tel: 01305 866000).
Portland (Castletown Slip) DT5 1BD. Launching only
This slip can only be used by a good 4×4 vehicle for launching and recovery at low tide.
After crossing the causeway onto the Isle of Portland, follow the road as it bears left up the hill and then bear left after 200m where the main road does a hairpin to the right. Once the road has straightened out at the bottom of the hill, look for the Aqua Sport Hotel on the left. There is a car park just after the hotel and then the public slip. There are toilets at the Aqua Sport Hotel car park and in the hotel; nitrox and air at Breakwater Dive Centre (www.divedorset.com, tel: 01305 860670 or 860269) beside the hotel; food and drink at the hotel; one dive shop within 50m. The Aqua Sport does not allow you into the cafe if you are wearing a dry suit.
East Wittering (Bracklesham Slip) PO20 8JS. Launching only
The car park and slipway are at the end of the road on the left hand side. There are toilets and a small café next to the car park; shops in the village; dive shop, with air and nitrox, at Wittering Divers, 12 Oakfield Road, East Wittering, www.witteringdivers.co.uk tel: 01243 672031
Itchenor PO20 7AY. Launching only
Itchenor is only used if East Wittering is not available due to weather conditions. There are few facilities at Itchenor and it is a 45 minute journey from the slip to the open sea (slightly less at high tide). There is a sandbar at the harbour entrance, with a channel on the extreme west side (examine the chart carefully before your first visit). A34, M3, M27 (east), A27 to Chichester. Turn right at the second roundabout and follow the A286. After about 3.5 miles, bear right onto the B2179 (at a roundabout by a Texaco petrol station) and then follow the signs for Itchenor. In Itchenor we meet in a car park on the left, about 200m before the road ends at the slip.
Calshot Jack Maynard Road, SO45 1BR. Launching only
Follow the B3053 past Fawley until you reach the sea (at Hillhead) and then turn left, this leads into the Calshot Activities Centre (www.calshot.com). Pay for parking in the skislope/rock climbing building, if not on entry. Toilets, showers and food (bar snacks) are available in the ski-slope/rock climbing building. No gas. Fresh water wash for boat (with hose) at slip.
Littlehampton, Ferry Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5DS. Launching only
At Arundel the A27 goes to single lane then take next roundabout turn RIGHT to FORD. Follow this over the railway line past Prison and then LEFT at next roundabout (A259). Follow this road: Ferry Road is first turn on your left (you go back on yourself), this is the turning for the Marina (BN17 5DS) where there is parking at no cost but launching is expensive. Boats are launched at the Marina Slip by the marina tractors. Fuel in the marina is also expensive, so arrive with full boat tanks.
Inland sites
There are a range of facilities (parking, food, air, nitrox, toilets) available at all of these sites.
Cromhall Quarry
Cromhall is great for first open water dives, rescue training and testing out new kit as it is less busy than the other sites, has a wide gently sloping beach area and a max depth of 17 metres. NB Cromhall is currently open only at the weekends. There are limited food facilities here so a packed lunch is advisable.
Cromhall South Gloucestershire, GL12 8AA. As you get near the sat nav position look out for a coach yard on the right hand side through some large gates, go diagonally through the yard, through a scrap metal yard and look for the gate on the gravel road in the top right hand side of the yard, this is the entrance to the quarry. Click here for link to Cromhall Quarry website
Vobster Quay
Vobster is a great place for training and recreational diving as it has a shelf at 12m and max depth of 35m. There are many points of interest in the lake, ranging from a shipwreck to a 30m long tunnel. Vobster does get very busy at weekends and membership is required if you want to park in the lower car park.
Vobster Quay, BA3 5SA is in Somerset, just north of the village of Vobster, about 5 miles from Frome and 4 miles from Radstock. Click here for link to Vobster Quay website
The visibility at Vobster can be up to 15 metres
There are many things of interest to see at Vobster from tunnels to Helicopters, see the video below from a dive in January.
National Diving and Activity Centre
The NDAC has a range of depths down to 80m and a selection of underwater attractions. There are also above water attractions such as a zip wire for non-diving partners. Their restaurant is excellent. Top tip: Make sure you have all your kit with you before you get on the shuttle bus down to the water!
The National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC), Chepstow Tidenham, LP16 7LH is just north of the old Severn Bridge (now the M48). From Newbury, take the M4 and then the M48 to Junction 2. Turn right at the junction, and again at the next roundabout, onto the A48 northbound. NDAC is on the left after 1.2 miles, at the village of Tidenham. Click here for link to NDAC website
Stoney Cove
Stoney was the original dive site in the UK and is still the biggest and busiest, especially at the weekends. This flooded granite quarry has a training shelf at 7m that is packed with fish and a blow off valve assembly down at 36m. Visibility is usually good.
Sapcote Road, Stoney Stanton, LE9 4DW, Stoney Cove is in Leicestershire between Sapcote and Stoney Stanton. Access is from the M69, Junction 1 (note that there is no northbound exit at junction 2, which appears on the map as being more convenient). After entry to the site you will come to a crossroads. Turn right for the main facilities unless directed to park elsewhere (there are three car parking areas). Top Tip: Go mid-week if you want to park within 100m of the water! Click here for link to Stoney Cove website
Other Members’ Zone pages and links:
- Ocean Diver Information – course outline, picking up pool kit, what is expected, How To tutorial videos
- How Much Does it Cost? – Current NSDC price list
- Mary Hare school facilities – information on access to the pool, classrooms, boat shed, and use of the compressor
- Going Diving – how to book on a dive, what to expect, what to take, how to decipher the inshore weather forecast
- Using the RIBs – how to prepare the boat, launch and recovery, towing
- Who’s who on the committee – the roles and responsibilities of the different committee positions
- Social – fun non-diving activities