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Scuba Diving at Chesil Cove in Dorset

Many of the dive sites in the south coast of England are shallow enough for beginners to learn the basics of scuba diving.

This dive guide contains helpful information for divers heading out from the 18-mile long shingle beach located at Chesil Cove in Dorset.

Best Months to Dive the South of England

If you're planning to go scuba diving in England, the south coast is one of the popular destinations - especially for new divers.

The chequered seafaring history of the British Isles means there's also an abundance of sunken wrecks for certified divers to explore near the shorelines.

So, here's the thing:

Sea temperatures rarely get above 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit) during the winter, and hover around 20° Celsius (68° Fahrenheit) in summer.

It's fair to say that some "hardy" divers will feel comfortable diving in a thick neoprene wetsuit as an exposure suit during the summer months (June through to the end of September).

But, most of the scuba shops in the South of England recommend wearing a drysuit and getting the PADI Dry Suit certification. This is especially prudent if you will be diving deeper than fifteen (15) metres (49 feet) or scuba diving at night time.

Getting to Chesil Cove

Travel to the Isle of Portland in the county of Dorset and you will discover the village of Chesil. Head to the western coastline and you'll find the main dive site at the southeastern end of Chesil Beach (sometimes called Chesil Bank) south of Weymouth.

You will be making a shore dive from the steep barrier beach that is almost completely made of stone shingle and pebbles.

And the dive site...

The average depth range is ideal for absolute beginners - typically between six (6) and eighteen (18) metres with mostly calm water movement around the rocky reefs and kelp forests.

This is the main reason why local dive centers use Chesil Beach dive site for conducting entry-level scuba courses.

By and large, the location is void of large tidal swings. Thus, scuba diving at Chesil Cove tends to be a year-round activity. Plus, depending on the season, underwater visibility ranges from as little as a few metres up to fifteen (15) metres (50 feet).

Pro Tip: It's always best to get a "local orientation" before you dive at an unfamiliar dive site and always use an effective signaling device (e.g. SMB). Even though diving at Chesil Cove is better with easterly winds, diving with a strong southwesterly wind often creates challenging conditions for entries and exits (e.g. mostly because of the large swells and undertows).

Sealife at Chesil Beach Dive Site

It's fair to say the marine life at many of the south west England dive sites will be similar to the diverse flora and fauna found at Chesil Cove.

So, apart from some amazing aquatic mammals (e.g. dolphins, whales, seals), the common marine creatures and fish species that scuba divers and snorkelers might see, include:

Related Information and Help Guides

Pro Tip: The video [2:55 seconds] presented by "The Action Lens" contains footage of some exciting dives near Portland and Weymouth on the south coast of England.

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