There are many great dive sites all within easy reach of our base of Swanage Pier; we also have the benefit of experienced club members who’ve been diving these waters for many years and know exactly where the best spots are. The Pier itself should not be overlooked, it being not only a safe dive site for beginners at no more than 6 metres deep, but so rich in wildlife that even the experienced diver will find things of interest under there !
Club diving is organised to take into account the experience of the divers attending on the day, with the occasional exception where some dives may be restricted to certain qualifications due to the depth, or other circumstances. We usually have 2 RIBs available, sometimes more and this means we can cater for different abilities and levels of experience.
Each year we set a calendar of dives so members can plan ahead. Click on the Example Dive Plan link above to see last year’s plan and the kind of diving we do. We have an on-line dive booking system which not only makes the dive marshall’s lives easier, but ensures that all members know exactly which dives are within their capability, which dives they are booked on and which still have spaces available.
With so much great diving available on our doorstep, we make the most of the summer months and get in as much diving as possible ! So besides full day’s diving at weekends, and also midweek for those with flexible working hours, we also dive in the evenings, finishing off with a barbeque or visit to the pub afterwards.
So a typical diving week in the summer may look like this :
Monday
Get to Kimmeridge Bay at 6pm for shore/boat dive (also great for just a snorkel) followed by BBQ watching the sun go down (weather permitting of course!)
Tuesday
Early start for a morning boat dive from Swanage Pier, compulsory pastie from the Friends of the Pier shop for lunch, out again in the afternoon for a second dive.
Wednesday
Head to the pier straight from work for 6pm boat dive in Swanage Bay, or just a relaxing potter under the pier, then off to the pub to catch up with everyone’s latest diving tales.
Sunday
With a full day set aside for diving, morning and afternoon dives further afield from either Swanage or Kimmeridge.
In the winter, we have access to the swimming pool at Purbeck Sports Centre every Saturday evening. This is where we hold our try-dives and training sessions, but all members can go there just for a swim, snorkel or to test gear. Winter is when the social side of the club kicks in, with quiz nights, skittle evenings, or any excuse to get together for a meal !
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