Artificial reef
down to 14 m
Portland Underwater Curiosity Park
An artificial dive park in Balaclava Bay at 10-14 m with a mock Roman temple, statues, a 3 m shark sculpture and Admiralty anchors.
- Open Water
- Dolphins
Open Water≤18 m
Swanage Pier
Dive site in Dorset (Portland & Swanage), United Kingdom
A shallow shore dive under Swanage Pier, its support struts covered in weed and kelp and home to blennies, wrasse, juvenile pollock and spider crabs.
- Max depth
- 5 m
- Level
- Open Water
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Entry
- From shore
The story
The present Swanage Pier was begun in 1895 and was first used by a steamer in 1896. It is a popular training site and hosts a diving school described as the oldest in the UK.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
The dive
A jetty / pier and macro dive from the shore. Known for crustaceans, cuttlefish and nudibranchs.
Who it's for
Open Water≤18 mSource: swanagepiertrust.com
Recommended minimum: Open Water (PADI Open Water, CMAS/FFESSM N1).
Conditions
- Dive type
- Jetty / pier, Macro, Kelp forest
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Crustaceans
- Cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Tompot blennies
Season in Dorset (Portland & Swanage)
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: May–Oct.
Source: travel.padi.comWhere is Dorset (Portland & Swanage)?
The point shows the Dorset (Portland & Swanage) area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Dorset (Portland & Swanage)
Wreck
down to 30 m
Aeolian Sky
A 1979 cargo-ship wreck lying on its port side in 29 m, with most of the hull intact and the holds still full of cargo.
- Advanced
Wreck
down to 24 m
Betsy Anna
An upright 1892 steamer in 24 m about 5 miles east of Swanage, lost under tow in 1926 after striking Prawle Point.
- Advanced
Wreck
down to 18 m
Chesil Cove
Shore dive down ledges from 3 to 18 m off Chesil's pebble bank, with cuttlefish, wrasse, pipefish and the remains of a landing craft and the Royal Adelaide.
- Open Water
- Rays
Wreck
down to 16 m
Countess of Erne
An upright 1868 paddle-steamer in Portland Harbour at 16 m max, with an accessible deck and holds where spider crabs and wrasse live.
- Open Water
Wreck
down to 36 m
HMS M2
An intact submarine lost in 1932 that was used to carry a small two-seater aircraft; the crew died aboard, and sponges, plumose anemones and conger eels now live on the wreck.
- Experienced
- Conger eel
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.