You could , of course , wade directly into the sea at Bracklesham . However , the pebble and sand beach isn ’ t known for great snorkelling conditions . By way of compromise , I commend a visit to Selsey Lifeboat Station , the nearest snorkel and dive site , just three miles way .
Selsey is a working beach , so be aware of lines in the water , the potential launching of the lifeboat and currents outside of slack water . You must carry a surface marker buoy … and money for an ice-cream to cool down afterwards .
Coldest
A body of water 600 metres above sea level on the slopes of Wales ’ highest mountain is said to contain the coldest water in Britain . Llyn Glaslyn also claims to have multiple connections with the Arthurian myths , and is home to its very own resident monster .
However , I ’ m not convinced about its claim to be the most frigid , especially as I ’ ve dived under ice in a number of Scottish lochs that reliably freeze over every year . However , having never dived this llyn , the promise of blue waters ( Glaslyn translates as Blue Lake ) and maybe even an encounter with an aquatic dragon means it ’ s now on my list . But , regardless of whether it is ‘ The ’ or only ‘ One of the ’ coldest bodies of water in Britain I ’ ll be taking a wetsuit and a flask .
Highest
I ’ ve mentioned Loch Coire an Lochain in previous columns , having visited it a number of times . I first dived it with Monty Halls on our Three Lakes Challenge , as it is the highest lake in the UK at 998 metres above sea level .
It lies in the Eastern Cairngorms and is relatively small ( Lochan means ‘ small loch ’) and shallow at only two or three metres at most . Perfect for a snorkel . I returned here in 2011 on my Britain by Snorkel project and I encountered the same clear , bright blue waters and clean , submerged granite boulders I ’ d seen before . It ’ s a long walk , but a very special place to have in your logbook .
Fastest
I should clarify the title of this one . Many rivers in the UK become super-fast maelstroms of boiling white during winter . However , this title goes to the fastest place to snorkel safely and for that I ’ d suggest The Linn of Dee . This is another site that ’ s cropped up in these pages in the last decade and is a gorge near Braemar , where the River Dee flows . The gorge forced the river to narrow and pick up speed . The water is deep enough to avoid hitting anything on your way down and it ’ s a regular dive spot of the Aberdeenshire clubs .
My choices are eminently debatable . I ’ d be very happy to hear alternative
No suit required at the height of summer
suggestions – especially locations I may not have snorkelled . If I get enough good ones , I might write a Part Two later this year where I visit some of the best ideas from SCUBA ’ s readers . Drop me a line via the magazine or Instagram
(@ andy _ torbet ), or email the editor at
simon @ scubamagazineco . uk . Bad ideas are as welcome as good ones . �
Churning waters of the Linn of Dee
Looking to introduce snokelling into your club ? Find out more at
55