West Wales Diving

Llantrisant Sub-Aqua Club
www.llantrisantdivers.com


	Diving around the Pembrokeshire Coastline

As a club based in South Wales we are very fortunate to live close enough to dive around the Pembrokeshire Coast, the only coastal national park in the UK and an area of "outstanding natural beauty" which also incorporates the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve.

Pembrokeshire is also an area rich in wildlife with many species of birds and mammals to be found. Some of the offshore islands are famous for their bird colonies such as the Gannets of Grassholme and the Manx Shearwaters of Skomer. Many of the more remote beaches and islands become home to seals during the breeding season and dolphins and porpoises are often sighted in the area.

As well as the breathtaking coastal scenery, Pembrokeshire's underwater environment is also very scenic and abundant with a diversity of marine life. The strong sea currents which race around this stretch of coastline carry food and nutrients to ensure a healthy growth of both plants and animals within this marine environment. With many wrecks in the area for divers to explore and underwater visibility up to 15 metres this area is a superb venue for sports divers.

When diving in the area, we base ourselves at the West Wales Diving Centre at Hasguard Cross (marked on the map below as a red square) We keep our club boats and tractor here and launch from local sites such as Broad Haven, Little Haven, Dale and Gelliswick (marked on the map below as red circles). From these launch sites we can reach many of our favourite dive locations at any state of the tide and in almost any weather conditions.

There are literally dozens of excellent dive sites around this area of coast, information on which can be obtained from the West Wales Diving Centre. Some of the more famous dive sites are shown on the map below.

During the diving season the boats are kept in the boatyard at West Wales Divers.
		The boats being prepared and checked out before use.
When they are ready they cane be hitched up and towed to the chosen launch site.
		The larger boats are quite heavy and require a four wheel drive vehicle to tow them.
The outboard engines are large and powerful so that the boats can carry us at speed to the various dive sites.
		After the divers have suited up the dive gear is then loaded on to the boats.
We usually use a tractor to tow the boats down the beach to the sea and launch them.
		Sometimes we use four wheel drive vehicles.
Final checks are carried out on the beach.
		Using a tractor for launching and recovery makes life a lot easier. (an awful lot easier)
Once the boats are in the water the engines are started and warmed up
		Somebody stays in the water to hold the boat steady while everybody else climds aboard.
The powerful outboard engines allow us to travel quickly to the chosen dive site.
		The boats can carry eight divers to the dive site with ease and we usually take more than one boat on a normal dive day.
Sometimes we take all three boats.
		The Hen & Chicks One of our favourite dive sites a site with spectacular marine life
The view from the other side.
		Hen and Chicks is usually diveable in bad weather when other more exposed sites are inaccessible.

		Brian Goffee as boat cover
Stack Rocks (west side) another popular dive site
		Skomer Island Famous for the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve
One of the boats anchored off the north wall of Skomer.
		Grassholme Island (birdshit island) Owned by the RSPB and home to a huge Gannet Colony
Some good diving is to found around this island.
		One of the main drawbacks to diving here is the terrific pong that comes from the gannet colony.
The Smalls Lighthouse Home to many seals and at the furthest limit of our club boats. There are several superb dive sites out here but due to its remote location, it can only be visited during periods of calm weather.
		The Diving Officer (Peter Rees)
Our equipment officer Billy Whizz and The club treasurer Jeff Canning (a pair of real crooks)
		Dicky Taylor (club fashion guru)
Our senior (senile) citizen Phil the Flute
		Gary Hortop wondering why he bought a Suunto Computer.
Our Vice President Merville Burrows (the bearded wonder)
		Alaina enjoying a sausage roll. Brian Goffee looking on in amazement.

		Divers kitting up on a crowded boat.












Going ashore for lunch.
		An afternoon in late summer.
Heading for home.
		Recovering the boat with the tractor.