Swanage Pier

[tom]

Right, about a thousand of you must have done this dive, so can I please pick your collective brains?

I've found a few bits and pieces about this on the web and have a basic idea of what it's all about. The two things I haven't been able to find out are:

1) Is it tide dependent? If it needs to be dived at slack, what time is that relative to high water at portland (or wherever)?

2) Any particular weather conditions that influence diveability / viz? (not sure how sheltered or otherwise it is).

Any other tips v. much appreciated as well.

Oh yeah, i'm hoping to get down there sometime soonish so if anyone wants to get together for a bit of fish-prodding...


Cheers,
Tom

[DanE]

Tom,

Try giving Divers Down a ring on 01929 423565, they're situated on the pier and I'm told they're very helpful.

Related link: http://www.diversdown.tv/default.htm

dan.

[tom]

Thanks Dan - will do that.

Any other tips people have are still more than welcome though - it'll be useful to have info here on the board so that people can search for it in future.

Tom

[DanE]

Tom,

Here's a few articles.

In answer to your questions:

1) From Divernet: "With a tidal range of only 2m between high and low spring tides, the pier is diveable at most stages of the tide."

2) Also from Divernet: "Visibility is usually around 3 to 5m, which is quite acceptable for photographic purposes. A pre-visit phone call to the pier dive shop is always worthwhile and the staff will willingly nip out and check the viz over the handrails. I always call to check the local inshore forecast. The wind that kills viz within a few hours is any sort of easterly."


http://www.divernet.com/travel/piers1199.htm

http://www.divernet.com/photog/pier498.htm

http://www.divernet.com/travel/1201winter2.htm

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...SS/swanage.htm

http://www.swanagepiertrust.com/

Give the old pier a try as well (it's just off to the right of the restored pier), there was plenty of fishlife there when I went last year, although it is a bit more tricky to stay within the legs.

I might be interested in coming along - let us know when you're going.

dan.

[Fee]

<font color='#0000FF'>Best dived at &quot;high&quot; water - maximum depth I've ever got is 7m

fantastic dive though

fee

[Seadart Bob]

<font color='#000080'>Hi Tom

Seadart Divers operate out of Swanage and have part of there website devoted to diving in and around Swanage.
Check out the site   www.seadart.net
If you navigate through the menu bar you will find the heading Swanage.
There’s charter boats/local wreck sites/street maps etc.

The local weather phone number is 09068 500 457 gives you up to 5 days and is quite accurate.
I use it a lot.

It’s a premium pay number but once you learn how to navigate through the options it is relatively cheep.

Only wind direction to steer clear of is anything with East in it.
As Dan said you could always phone the Dive school and they will tell you what he viz is like.

HTH
Cheers
Bob

[tom]

Thanks people- just the job. Look out for the 'buddy wanted' posting in the very near future!

Tom

[MATTBIN]

Tom
give me a PM or similar when you fancy a dip off the pier as I'm up for it too, love the area, can be done in one day from our location. There is a car park on the pier and one further up the hill, neither is too much of a trek.

Matt

[Paul Bogle]

Hi Tom,
I'd definitely be interested in a day trip here too if you decide to go.

Cheers,
Paul

[MATTBIN]

Paul
looks like 30 Jan is a dip day - you interested?

Matt