fjweaver
Member
Does anyone know of the conditions for scuba diving off Portland (ie clarity of water, tide strength etc)
any other good locations on the South Coast?
thanks
any other good locations on the South Coast?
thanks
Diving in Portland
- Thread starter fjweaver
- Start date
Scubadoo
Well-known member
Hi,
Well I wouldn't dive directly off Portland, very strong currents etc - but I guess a drift dive would be good. The best wreck I dived was the M2 a British 1935 Submarine with a prototype aircraft hanger, still completely intact and in 30metres - need to dive on slack. General vis will be better with a neap tide and therefore 7-10metres Vis. Also the wreck (Hood) whichs block one of the Portland harbour entrances interesting with marine life.
But you really need to watch the tides, there are plenty of Dive operators in Weymouth harbour to make it easy for you.
Generally speaking the further West you go - Devon/Cornwall the better the Vis - I enjoyed some Scenic dives at Rock Island (near the Helford river entrance).
Hope that helps.
RM.
Well I wouldn't dive directly off Portland, very strong currents etc - but I guess a drift dive would be good. The best wreck I dived was the M2 a British 1935 Submarine with a prototype aircraft hanger, still completely intact and in 30metres - need to dive on slack. General vis will be better with a neap tide and therefore 7-10metres Vis. Also the wreck (Hood) whichs block one of the Portland harbour entrances interesting with marine life.
But you really need to watch the tides, there are plenty of Dive operators in Weymouth harbour to make it easy for you.
Generally speaking the further West you go - Devon/Cornwall the better the Vis - I enjoyed some Scenic dives at Rock Island (near the Helford river entrance).
Hope that helps.
RM.
BarryH
Active member
There was a book out a while ago called Dive Dorset. Don't know if its still in print, but would be a good starting point. Spose a specialist dive shop would be able to get it if its still in print
longjohnsilver
Well-known member
It most certainly is still in print. Well worth a read, should give you most of the info you need. One of my most memorable dives was just 50 yards or so off the Bill, lots of life and good vis.
There's some excellent diving around Weymouth, you could well bump into me and my buddies up that way in the next few weeks, was down there just 2 days ago to suss it out.
There's some excellent diving around Weymouth, you could well bump into me and my buddies up that way in the next few weeks, was down there just 2 days ago to suss it out.
