Is UK inland quarries & lakes good for beginner divers?

Yes, partly: 4 of the 8 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Nautilus (Stoney Cove 7 m shelf), Hawker Siddeley aircraft (Vobster Quay) and Peveril Pride (Vobster Quay). The others need more experience or a higher certification.

What is the water temperature in UK inland quarries & lakes?

The water is usually between 3 °C and 17 °C over the year.

What marine life can you see in UK inland quarries & lakes?

Divers regularly see freshwater fish.

UK inland quarries & lakes

Diving in United Kingdom

8 documented dive sites, 4 of them for Open Water divers.

Good months: All year
Water: 3–17 °C
Levels: Open Water, Advanced, Experienced
Nearest airport: EMA

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

UK inland quarries & lakes in October

Good season

Air: 15 °C; 8 °C at night
Rain: 90 mm; one of the wettest months
Wind: 16 km/h; on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Compare with another destination

Dived all year: Stoney Cove and Vobster Quay are open seven days a week. The water is fresh and cold, from about 3 °C in winter to 17 °C in summer, with better visibility in the colder months.

Source: stoneycove.com

Dive sites in UK inland quarries & lakes

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Each quarry has its own rules. Vobster Quay is a members-only site: non-members can dive only on Tuesdays (08:00–15:00), and every visit must be booked online in advance. At Stoney Cove all visiting divers sign the day log, and the deepest area (36 m) is for very experienced divers only.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m4 sites

Lake

down to 7 m

Nautilus (Stoney Cove 7 m shelf)

The Nautilus submarine rests on Stoney Cove's 7 m entry-level shelf, open to all divers including accompanied trainees.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 14 m

Hawker Siddeley aircraft (Vobster Quay)

Aircraft sections of a Hawker Siddeley lying at 12-14 m in Vobster Quay.

Open Water

Lake

down to 10 m

Peveril Pride (Vobster Quay)

The Peveril Pride, a Vobster Quay attraction at 7-10 m.

Open Water

Lake

down to 5 m

The Galleon (Stoney Cove)

A galleon on a 5 m ledge in the far south-east corner of Stoney Cove.

Open Water

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m3 sites

Lake

down to 22 m

Crushing Works (Vobster Quay)

The quarry's old crushing works, 'as big as a house', between 14 and 22 m at Vobster Quay.

Advanced

Wreck

down to 24 m

Sea King Helicopter (Vobster Quay)

An ex-Royal Navy Sea King helicopter at 22-24 m in Vobster Quay.

Advanced

Wreck

down to 22 m

Stanegarth (Stoney Cove)

A steam-powered tug built in 1910, older than the Titanic, now a wreck in Stoney Cove since June 2000.

Advanced

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m1 site

Lake

down to 36 m

Deep Hydrobox (Stoney Cove)

The deep Hydrobox in Stoney Cove's 36 m expert area, reached down a buoyed line, where the water is about 5 C.

Experienced

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Freshwater fish
Crustaceans

Where is UK inland quarries & lakes?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Stoney Cove (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Nearest airport: EMA

UK inland quarries & lakes: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive UK inland quarries & lakes?: UK inland quarries & lakes can be dived all year round. Dived all year: Stoney Cove and Vobster Quay are open seven days a week. The water is fresh and cold, from about 3 °C in winter to 17 °C in summer, with better visibility in the colder months.
Is UK inland quarries & lakes good for beginner divers?: Yes, partly: 4 of the 8 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Nautilus (Stoney Cove 7 m shelf), Hawker Siddeley aircraft (Vobster Quay) and Peveril Pride (Vobster Quay). The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in UK inland quarries & lakes?: The water is usually between 3 °C and 17 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in UK inland quarries & lakes?: Divers regularly see freshwater fish.
How do you dive UK inland quarries & lakes?: The nearest airport is EMA.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash