drift and scenic dive sites
Nab Tower
About
9 miles out, this tower started life during WW1 as part of a submarine defence
system along the south coast. However, the end of the war came before
the project was completed and none of the other towers were built. Not
knowing what to do with it, the tower was subsequently placed on the dangerous
Nab Rock as a fixed lighthouse. When it settled it did so a this jaunty
angle!. The tower is quite a good dive and is built in layers (a bit
like giant wedding cake) which makes it good for all levels of divers.
Life around the tower can be prolific with schools of bass in the shallower
depths often being encountered. The Nab also makes an excellent second
dive as it always has a sheltered side even when there are some currents.
Maximum depth is 22 metres.
The Solent Forts
There
are a few of these defensive forts in the Solent and they used to be very
popular dives but as the visibility in the Solent deteriorated, so the number
of divers visiting was reduced. Now that the visibility is returning
to the area (since dumping stopped off Sandown) they are well worth a visit.
There are several to choose from and maximum depth is around 12 metres.
The forts can be dived at any state of the tide on the sheltered side.
Bracklesham Bay
Nice
gentle drift dives with plenty of life and usually some excellent visibility.
A great favourite on a summers evening and an excellent second dive of the
day. The site offers a great diversity of marine life - pollack, bass,
whiting, bib, lobsters and crab are prolific. This is an excellent dive
for newly qualified divers with gentle drifts and shallow water. For
a recent report click
here to read an excellent Diver Magazine article. Average depth
is around 12 metres.
Bembridge Ledges
This
shallow reef off Bembridge on the Isle of Wight is a gently sloping rock ledge
that makes a good dive for beginners or an excellent second dive of the day.
The rock formations hide a lot of life, particularly crabs, lobsters and wrasse
and drifts are usually gentle. Due to the rocky bottom composition visibility
is usually good and average depth is around 9 metres. The lifeboat station
at Bembridge makes an interesting dive at slack water albeit very shallow.
This is dived from the shore.
Culver Cliffs Depth Between 6 and 18m
Another
excellent drift dive just South of Bembridge Ledges below Culver Cliffs.
The depth varies between 6 and 18m and there is a varied seabed. This
results in a variety of marine life including dogfish, flatfish, numerous
species of wrasse, lobster and crabs. Drifts are gentle, but get stronger
as the depth increases so it is recommended that divers stay in the 8 - 12
metre depth range.
More dive sites to follow .........
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