UK DIVING
Beneath British seas
What makes so many people go diving in the UK ? From shipwrecks to sharks and great walls of coral , there is much to be discovered . Text and photography by Simon Rogerson
The world of marketing tends to present us with an image of scuba diving as an exclusively tropical activity , with divers in skimpy swimsuits swimming over coral gardens . The truth is , as ever , more complicated . People dive year-round in British waters , and there are amazing things to see : plenty of fish ; historic shipwrecks and colourful reefs festooned with soft corals and anemones . There are obviously differences between diving in Britain and in tropical water . Temperate seas such as ours have water that is more oxygenated and supports more life , including plankton , which affects the clarity of the water . So , visibility and light levels are generally lower than in tropical destinations – although not in every case . Also , the richness of our seas is fed by strong tidal currents , which become much less powerful as you approach the equator . Tide-planning plays a key role in British diving , and understanding the nature of tidal seas is all part of becoming a BSAC diver . So you need the right equipment , and you need the right training . But are there enough things to see underwater to keep you eagerly filling out your diver ’ s logbook ? I hope to convince you with these next few pages , in which I offer a whistle-stop tour of some of the UK ’ s beginner-friendly dive sites . This list is by no means comprehensive , but intended to give a glimpse of underwater Britain . And I think you will agree – UK diving is more than worth it .
Swanage , Dorset
The charming seaside town of Swanage has been at the centre of English diving culture since the very earliest days , when the hardy pioneers of BSAC would explore the shallows around the pier with little more than a rugby top by way of insulation . Times have changed ( as , thankfully , has the kit ), but divers still flock to Swanage for one of the country ’ s best shore dives , and more . Swanage Pier offers easy diving in a current-free environment easily accessible from the shore . The wooden struts of the pier provide an ideal environment for fish , crabs , cuttlefish , nudibranchs ( colourful sea slugs ) and other marine fauna . On the pier , there is a long established dive shop , Divers Down , which has shuttle boats on hand to take you to wrecks such as the Fleur de Lys , the remains of a fishing trawler that sit at 13 metres .
Plymouth , Devon
More divers visit Plymouth than any other coastal town in Britain ; its popularity is the result of great facilities and a great choice of club-friendly dive sites . The two most famous sites are both wrecks : The James Eagan Layne and the Scylla . The James sits a bit below the Ocean Diver depth limit at 24m , but HMS Scylla has a depth range of 12m to 24m . The Scylla is more intact because it is a modern wreck , sunk on purpose in 2003 in order to help studies on marine life and to create a new place to dive . It has proven a massive success , and is today the most popular wreck dive anywhere in the UK , bristling with fish life , coral and crustaceans . Elsewhere , Plymouth has a classic shore dive at Fort Bovisand and many offshore reefs , including the famous Eddystone reef , with its imposing lighthouse .
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