Sunset in the North Lakes
DIVING IN THE
ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
Lake Windermere.
Diving is permitted but groups must check in with the Lake Warden, Lake
Warden's Office, Ferry Nab, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3JH,
telephone 01539 442753. Give details of where you propose to dive, number
of divers, person in charge and boat details if one is being used. Boats
must be registered for use on Windermere and can only be launched at Ferry
Nab. Boat registration details can be obtained from the Lake Warden. Boats
must display the 'A' flag when divers are in the water and all divers
should use an SMB. A speed limit of 10 mph is being proposed. Height above
sea level - 61 metres.
Coniston Water.
Check in with Mr Geoff Leech, Head Boatman at Coniston Boating Centre,
telephone 01539 441366, or evenings on 01539 441530. Give details of where
you propose to dive, number of divers, contact name, address and telephone
number for the group, estimated time on site. Boat engines must not exceed
4hp. Boats must display the 'A' flag when divers are in the water and all
divers should use an SMB. Height above sea level - 43m.
Wastwater.
Permission to dive must be obtained in advance from National Trust Warden
Colin Lindsay, telephone 01946 726296. This area is an SSSI and is one of
the Trust's 'quiet lakes', so no boats are allowed on Wastwater, nor may
air compressors be used on site. The maximum number for any group should
not exceed 12. Parking is limited and it may be that only one group of
divers will be able to dive at any one time so book early. Height above
sea level - 61 metres.
Warning: this is a deep water site where the lake bed slopes
steeply away to extreme depth. Good buoyancy control is essential to avoid
going deeper than planned - a common factor in the several diving
fatalities that have occurred at this site.
Ullswater.
No special permission to dive is required. However, it is advisable not to
trespass over private property to gain access to the water. Boat engines
are limited to 4hp maximum and SMBs should be used. Avoid diving around
Howton Pier unless you check first with the Ullswater Navigation and
Transit Company, telephone 01768 482229. Height above sea level - 145
metres.
Grasmere.
Permission to dive must be obtained in advance from the National Trust
Warden, David Owen, telephone 01539 437663. No boats or compressors are
allowed and dive parties should be limited to a maximum of 12 at any one
time. Height above sea level - approximately 60 metres.
Crummock Water.
Permission to dive must be obtained in advance from the National Trust
Warden, Mark Astley, telephone 01900 85267. This is another 'quiet lake'
so powered boats are not allowed, nor may air compressors be used on site.
Parking is very limited, therefore diving parties are restricted to 12
persons at any one time. Avoid taking more than three cars. Height above
sea level - 99 metres.
Tarn Hows, Rydal Water, Loweswater and Buttermere.
Diving is not permitted in these National Trust owned lakes.
Haweswater, Thirlmere, Ennerdale.
Diving is not allowed in these reservoirs, which are controlled by North
West Water.
Derwent Water.
No information, other than shallow and poor visibility. Height above sea
level - 75 metres.
Bassenthwaite.
No information. Height above sea level - 69 metres.
Hodge Close Quarry.
Signposted off Ambleside to Coniston road (map reference - Ordnance Survey
map 'English Lakes SW area' 318017). The quarry owners will not grant
permission for diving - but will not stop divers using the site at their
own risk. Access to the lower car park and tunnel can be obtained by
paying £4.00 per car at the house with the A Flag in the garden. Access
to and from the water is challenging! Height above sea level - 155 metres.
Warning: Several divers have lost their lives in Hodge Close
Quarry, mainly as the result of getting lost in the underwater caves /
tunnels. Since PADI training does not prepare members for cave diving, the
Derwent Divers advises divers using this site not to enter the caves
unless they have received appropriate training from a specialist body such
as the Cave Diving Group. Furthermore, because access to / from the water
is so difficult, and because the rock slopes which make up the limited
shallow areas are unstable, PADI does not consider this site suitable for
use by divers of less than Advanced Open Water Diver qualification with
Cave Diving Speciality.
Two other sites near the Lake District:
Capernwray Diving Ltd., Jackdaw Quarry, Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancs.
(2 miles from Junction 35 on M6). The first phase of development of this
site as a diving centre is now complete and the site is open to divers
every day 10.00 until 17.00 and 09.00 to 17.00 at weekends. Night diving
and Bank Holiday diving by appointment only. Contact Chris Collingwood,
Site Manager / Warden, on telephone number 01524 735132 or 01524 846345,
who will be happy to provide further details and an approach map. Site
facilities include a dive shop, air to 232 bar, food and drinks, toilets,
underwater training platforms and numerous marked underwater sites of
interest. Do not park in the entrance area or on the road outside the
quarry - you might obstruct emergency services access if you do.
Devils Bridge, Kirby Lonsdale.
The River Lune is a salmon fishing river, so diving is restricted to
certain times of the year. Diving is allowed between the two bridges on
Sundays only in the months of July and August, and on any day during the
months of November, December and January. Contact the local Tourist
Information Office - telephone 01524 271437
This information was checked for accuracy at the time of publication, but
may be subject to change. Do check-in where a name and number are given;
and please notify Derwent Divers if you discover anything which should be
updated on this document.
