Winter Diving in the UK

Robert Cook · 18th April 2005, 03:47

Guys, I'm playing with the idea of moving myself to the UK for (at least) a year, possibly in September/October. While the timing looks good from a non-diving angle, I'm curious about how much the weather interferes with diving in the UK in winter. Is it possible to get out on a regular basis? The other question is where to base myself over winter, I'm currently looking at the south coast, but what are the alternatives?

Thanks,
Robert

Mark Chase · 18th April 2005, 08:21

England doesn’t have seasons as such it has weather. Snow in May beautiful sunny days 15c in December hurricanes in August that sort of thing. As a result last year the entire summer was blown out but I had some fantastic diving with 15m vis in October November and December. Water down to 12c off of Brighton.

Then the wind came back the viz was trashed and its been freezing cold soup ever since.

Over the years I have logged 20mviz on the Moldavia in March 10c and 3m Viz on the Moldavia in March at 7c.

In other word's winter diving in England is a lottery. Summer diving in England is also a lottery. But when it’s good it’s some of the best diving in the world.

ATB

Mark Chase

Andy M · 18th April 2005, 08:38

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

But when it’s good it’s some of the best diving in the world.

What ARE you smoking Mark? Can I have some?

Ok being realistic, yes UK diving is very good, there are lots of wrecks, far more than you have in Australia. If you go out far enough theres some awesome scenic dives, walls covered in jewel anemones etc.

lizardland · 18th April 2005, 10:16

The UK isn't just England & the Channel coast!!!

If you want extremely good, year round diving, clear water, sheltered coastline, cheap boats, cheap places to stay, short boat rides rarely more than 1/2hr (10min to some superb wrecks, the Clyde estuary was a major shipping channel) no whingeing southerners, decent beer, decent pubs then Scotland is the place.

From Glasgow, there is superb shore diving within 40min drive or further afield the islands and west coast are amazing. Wrecks a-plenty, hundreds of undived wrecks (especially around the NE, Aberdeen coast). It's also a completely different way of life to England, more like NZ or Canada (not surprising as most Kiwis & Canadians are Mac-something), more laid back, less hectic. I might be biased but most places I've been south of Manchester are Americanised urban sprawls

Cheers,

Stuart

Mark Chase · 18th April 2005, 12:48

Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M)

What ARE you smoking Mark? Can I have some?

Ok being realistic, yes UK diving is very good, there are lots of wrecks, far more than you have in Australia. If you go out far enough there’s some awesome scenic dives, walls covered in jewel anemones etc.

Obviously it depends on what’s your thing, but with 1500 wrecks off of Dover and a little bit of research showing up 42 undived/little dived marks in the same area, its my idea of heaven. I have dived extensively in the warm blue stuff and frankly I find it all a little boring. The only thing I like is doing a deep wreck and being able to deco out on a reef instead of green nothingness.

Wall dives looking at anemones bore me to death I like big pelagiacs and I like wrecks and that’s about it.

Listing my top 10 dives of all time only two (The Rosalie Muller & the Thistlegorm) are in the blue stuff and they are low down on the list . The rest are in the green and they are all in UK south cost waters. I haven’t dived in Scotland as living in Kent its a big event to go there but its definitely got great diving. For years I thought about diving holidays in the Red Sea or similar environments but these days I think more of the Jutland wrecks the Normandy wrecks and Norway as dive holidays.

ATB

Mark Chase

greekbird · 18th April 2005, 13:29

You haven't said where in the UK...Here in Plymouth we have some incredible dive sites within a stone's throw, from wrecks to scenic. The Manacles in Cornwall have an abundance of both, Plymouth itself features a cracking shore dive (max depth 48ish with a beautiful reef covered in life at max depth 32ish), quite a few wrecks for any depth range you fancy doing. Weather wise as Mark said it's a bit of a lottery. The water temps range from 8 to 18ish degC. HTH

Andy M · 18th April 2005, 13:36

Quote: (Originally Posted by greekbird)

Plymouth itself features a cracking shore dive (max depth 48ish with a beautiful reef covered in life at max depth 32ish)

48m as a shore dive in the UK? stone the crows! where is this please?

Andy

lizardland · 18th April 2005, 13:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M)

48m as a shore dive in the UK? stone the crows! where is this please?

Andy

It is quite shallow, isn't it

In Sunny Scotland, you can easily get 100m+ from the shore in quite a few sites, 70m+ in others, and plenty of 50m+ shore dives. I've done 124m off the shore.

greekbird · 18th April 2005, 17:15

Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M)

48m as a shore dive in the UK?

and we had about 15m vis on saturday

Andy M · 18th April 2005, 20:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

It is quite shallow, isn't it

In Sunny Scotland, you can easily get 100m+ from the shore in quite a few sites, 70m+ in others, and plenty of 50m+ shore dives. I've done 124m off the shore.

We aint talking about ferkin scotland. You said there was a 48m shore dive in Plymouth. Where is it?

18th April 2005, 03:47	#1 (permalink)
Robert Cook Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 107	Winter Diving in the UK Guys, I'm playing with the idea of moving myself to the UK for (at least) a year, possibly in September/October. While the timing looks good from a non-diving angle, I'm curious about how much the weather interferes with diving in the UK in winter. Is it possible to get out on a regular basis? The other question is where to base myself over winter, I'm currently looking at the south coast, but what are the alternatives? Thanks, Robert
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18th April 2005, 08:21	#2 (permalink)
Mark Chase RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,854	England doesn’t have seasons as such it has weather. Snow in May beautiful sunny days 15c in December hurricanes in August that sort of thing. As a result last year the entire summer was blown out but I had some fantastic diving with 15m vis in October November and December. Water down to 12c off of Brighton. Then the wind came back the viz was trashed and its been freezing cold soup ever since. Over the years I have logged 20mviz on the Moldavia in March 10c and 3m Viz on the Moldavia in March at 7c. In other word's winter diving in England is a lottery. Summer diving in England is also a lottery. But when it’s good it’s some of the best diving in the world. ATB Mark Chase __________________ See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!! Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08 [/quote]
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18th April 2005, 08:38	#3 (permalink)
Andy M Dude Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 428	Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) But when it’s good it’s some of the best diving in the world. What ARE you smoking Mark? Can I have some? Ok being realistic, yes UK diving is very good, there are lots of wrecks, far more than you have in Australia. If you go out far enough theres some awesome scenic dives, walls covered in jewel anemones etc.
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18th April 2005, 10:16	#4 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,382	The UK isn't just England & the Channel coast!!! If you want extremely good, year round diving, clear water, sheltered coastline, cheap boats, cheap places to stay, short boat rides rarely more than 1/2hr (10min to some superb wrecks, the Clyde estuary was a major shipping channel) no whingeing southerners, decent beer, decent pubs then Scotland is the place. From Glasgow, there is superb shore diving within 40min drive or further afield the islands and west coast are amazing. Wrecks a-plenty, hundreds of undived wrecks (especially around the NE, Aberdeen coast). It's also a completely different way of life to England, more like NZ or Canada (not surprising as most Kiwis & Canadians are Mac-something), more laid back, less hectic. I might be biased but most places I've been south of Manchester are Americanised urban sprawls Cheers, Stuart
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18th April 2005, 12:48	#5 (permalink)
Mark Chase RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,854	Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M) What ARE you smoking Mark? Can I have some? Ok being realistic, yes UK diving is very good, there are lots of wrecks, far more than you have in Australia. If you go out far enough there’s some awesome scenic dives, walls covered in jewel anemones etc. Obviously it depends on what’s your thing, but with 1500 wrecks off of Dover and a little bit of research showing up 42 undived/little dived marks in the same area, its my idea of heaven. I have dived extensively in the warm blue stuff and frankly I find it all a little boring. The only thing I like is doing a deep wreck and being able to deco out on a reef instead of green nothingness. Wall dives looking at anemones bore me to death I like big pelagiacs and I like wrecks and that’s about it. Listing my top 10 dives of all time only two (The Rosalie Muller & the Thistlegorm) are in the blue stuff and they are low down on the list . The rest are in the green and they are all in UK south cost waters. I haven’t dived in Scotland as living in Kent its a big event to go there but its definitely got great diving. For years I thought about diving holidays in the Red Sea or similar environments but these days I think more of the Jutland wrecks the Normandy wrecks and Norway as dive holidays. ATB Mark Chase __________________ See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!! Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08 [/quote]
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18th April 2005, 13:29	#6 (permalink)
greekbird in lurking Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: tidying the spare room Posts: 25	You haven't said where in the UK...Here in Plymouth we have some incredible dive sites within a stone's throw, from wrecks to scenic. The Manacles in Cornwall have an abundance of both, Plymouth itself features a cracking shore dive (max depth 48ish with a beautiful reef covered in life at max depth 32ish), quite a few wrecks for any depth range you fancy doing. Weather wise as Mark said it's a bit of a lottery. The water temps range from 8 to 18ish degC. HTH __________________ greekbird Out of my mind....back in five minutes
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18th April 2005, 13:36	#7 (permalink)
Andy M Dude Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 428	Quote: (Originally Posted by greekbird) Plymouth itself features a cracking shore dive (max depth 48ish with a beautiful reef covered in life at max depth 32ish) 48m as a shore dive in the UK? stone the crows! where is this please? Andy
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18th April 2005, 13:43	#8 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,382	Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M) 48m as a shore dive in the UK? stone the crows! where is this please? Andy It is quite shallow, isn't it In Sunny Scotland, you can easily get 100m+ from the shore in quite a few sites, 70m+ in others, and plenty of 50m+ shore dives. I've done 124m off the shore.
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18th April 2005, 17:15	#9 (permalink)
greekbird in lurking Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: tidying the spare room Posts: 25	Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M) 48m as a shore dive in the UK? and we had about 15m vis on saturday __________________ greekbird Out of my mind....back in five minutes
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18th April 2005, 20:24	#10 (permalink)
Andy M Dude Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 428	Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) It is quite shallow, isn't it In Sunny Scotland, you can easily get 100m+ from the shore in quite a few sites, 70m+ in others, and plenty of 50m+ shore dives. I've done 124m off the shore. We aint talking about ferkin scotland. You said there was a 48m shore dive in Plymouth. Where is it?
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