Dive Sites
There are five main dive sites that we use for inshore waters (sea) training. They are all in Dorset on the south coast of England. These are:
All these sites are brilliant for snorkelling and provide a good range of experience for all levels.
Lulworth Cove
This is a large bay, which is well protected from the elements thanks to high cliffs. It has a pebbled beach and depending on your base of operations, is close to amenities, such as ice cream stalls etc.
Though there is not much underwater life close to the beach, further to the right, as you look at the photo, there are rock formations, which can provide places to investigate.
It should be noted that though this is a good place to snorkel, many divers use the cove as a place to moor their boats. As snorkellers we should be aware that divers tend not to notice us and any dive plan made for the cove should account for this. Back to the Top
Stair Hole
Stair Hole is a famous geological rock formation, situated just west of Lulworth Cove. It is a fantastic site, good for new and experienced snorkellers alike.
Access to the hole itself can be a little precarious at times, as the cliff which you have to climb down is clay. When it rains the clay can become very soft and slippery, which can at times make it a little exciting. It is however possible, and worth it once you reach the bottom.
The small cove is closed in by a rock formation which protects you form the sea and the wind. From the beach it drops out in shelves to a depth of about five metres.
There is also a small cave in the cliff - St Clements Cave. This goes about ten metres into the cliff wall and has a sandy beach at the end of it. There is little to see but it make a fun
It is possible to snorkel out to sea through the holes in the cliff. You can snorkel out of one hole and round back through the other. This should really only be done when the sea state is relatively calm as it can be a hard snorkel. Back to the Top
The Durdle Door
The Durdle Door is another famous geological site further west of Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole. It comprises of a large pebbled beach with a large cliff wall out crop, forming an arch into the water. From the beach this too shelves out to depths of about fourteen metres, further out to sea.
There is a lot of sea life around the base of the door, including kelp and many varieties of fish. The door can be a little exposed at times to the wind, but on a good day it is a great place to base yourself.
Be warned the walk from the car park is pretty long. You'll need to be fairly energetic to get to this site, especially carrying a weight belt. There is usually in the summer months, however, a man with a land rover jeep, who charges for lifts to the top of the hill. Back to the Top
Man 'o' War Bay
Man 'o' War Bay is the next cove just east of Durdle Door. It is another large pebbled beach and is protected from the South Westerly winds along the coast line.
It has large kelp field in the bay area, that holds a multitude of life. It drops to a depth of about five to six metres. The entrance to the cove is partially blocked by a rock outcrop. This is a fun place to snorkel too and look round, with the possibility of finding crabs in small alcoves.
Getting to the beach is the same as for the Durdle Door. Back to the Top
Swanage Old & New Piers
This is a major dive spot and is used by many divers of all types as a base to launch boats and do training. It costs to get onto the pier by foot or with vehicle, but to get a car on there you will need to arrive very early. There are car parks nearby which are within easy walking distance of the piers.
Both piers provide excellent bases to start from. You can use the pier as a high level entry platform, then snorkel out to the old pier where you can look at things like old lobster pots. There is an abundance of life around the piers, including spider crabs and many varieties of fish, which are very easy to spot.
Under the new pier, if you are lucky and have a good eye, it is possible to find dive gear that has been dropped off the pier by careless divers. At the end of the dive it is then only a short walk away into town to get a drink and a bite to eat. Back to the Top
Junior Snorkelling Club
