I learned to dive off the coast of Pen Llŷn , the Llŷn Peninsula , a small arm of land in North West Wales . Up until the age of around 16 I wasn ’ t aware that you could actually learn to dive in the UK . None of my family dived ; I had a few friends who did but I assumed it was something that they had learned while overseas . All the same I got into snorkelling , relishing the wealth of species and habitats of North Wales over several youthful summer seasons .
I ventured further into the diving world after finding out about my local BSAC club . Lleyn Sub-Aqua club was operating down the road , and had been for decades . It was with this club that I learned to dive and still remain an active member . I went through the training process , exploring the same shallow sites I had visited as a snorkeller while progressing to deeper , more exposed places . As I made this progression , I came to understand why some people found UK diving as more challenging , especially coping with thick wetsuits or a drysuit , which add weight and make maneuverability slightly more difficult .
Admittedly , it made training more challenging , but I am a believer that training in these conditions , in a progressive manner , definitely helps to hone the skills . It also then makes you appreciate the warm blue water dives when you do get to dive overseas .
Through the years of diving , the majority of my dives have been from along the North Wales coast . This is a place that can provide something for every sort of diver , from a maritime history with wrecks and relics to a multitude of different habitats and species . There are shallow dives for easy conditions , or fast drifts to get the pulse racing !
A sea of contrasts
Anglesey , or Ynys Mon in Welsh , is popular with divers , with plenty of options all around the island ; you can chill and enjoy the shore dives , while more experienced can head offshore to deeper sites . I won ’ t go into too much detail here as it hasn ’ t been one of my more frequently dived locations , except for parts of the Menai Strait . In fact , the Strait ranks high among my North Wales recommendations , but timing is crucial as slack tides are short here . Along the Strait there are a number of entry points for shore dives from either side . My favourite is under the Menai Bridge , where you follow a cable down and explore the steep slopes and ledges that provide homes to a variety of species .
My home diving patch is Pen Llŷn , the peninsula situated between bae Caernarfon
Curious tompot blenny
Spiny starfish in a seagrass meadow
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