UBUC

Chesil

Chesil Cove is a favourite shore dive due to it's accessibility, (usually) good vis and protection from southerly/ southeasterly winds through to slightly west of northerlys, hence it's often a reserve for south coast boat dives that get blown out. It has a max depth of around 12-15m, with an average depth of 8m and can be dived on any state of the tide - so it can be a good environment for drills or early season dives.

There is limited parking at the top of Brandy Row, however there is a car park at the bottom of Brandy Row and it's usually fairly easy to get a space. Usually it's most convenient to drive up to the esplanade wall, dump the kit and then go and park the car.

A good place to situate on the beach is at the foot of the esplanade, where there is large ledge giving somewhere to pile all the kit and giving the shore marshal a good vantage point. The esplanade also gives protection from the elements.

The dive itself is described in Dive Dorset as an 'underwater fairyland' and to a certain extent this is true. The best diving lies between the two symmetrical slips that come down to the beach from the esplanade. Many ships have met their end on this part of the coast and there is a considerable amount of wreckage around - one such structure lies in about 5m directly out from the left hand (as you look to sea) slip, and is a good place to teach a few early drills such as dSMB deployment.

The pebbly beach soon gives way to bigger boulders at around 6-7m which in turn gives way to large sandy areas surrounded by rocks and boulders at about 12-13m. Life can be very prolific on the dive with many different types of wrasse, pipefish, crustacea, sand eels, pollack, mackerel and cuttlefish, with a John Dory being spotted on more than a few dives. The seaweed is also very colourful and provides homes for much macro life such as nudibranchs. The vis can get up to 10m during the summer, but the average is nearer to 5m - it's much less during May due to the plankton bloom.

If you veer too far south on the dive, the rocks become kelp-covered and the amount of life decreases noticeably and you'll also come across a few large outlet pipes (at least one of which is disused, the other is bright yellow) in about 6m. If nothing else these will help you with your pilotage for getting back to your exit point.

Getting There:

Head towards Temple Meads and take the A37 (Wells Rd). Follow signs for Yeovil, Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland. After driving along the A354 (Portland Rd) which goes the length of Chesil Beach, take the last exit on the roundabout, then turn right when you see the carpark.

Journey Time: Anywhere from 1h 45m to 2h 15m. Most of the journey is single carraigeway and so even light traffic can add a considerable chunk onto the journey