Lyme Bay - Dorset
Diving The Jurassic Coast
In 2001 a 95-mile stretch of Devon and Dorset coastline achieved world heritage status. This means it ranks with the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef as one of the natural wonders of the world, but unlike them this is on your doorstep! This includes the whole of Lyme bay, from Lyme Regis in the West to Abbotsbury and Weymouth in the East. This beautiful stretch of coastline is made up entirely of rocks formed during the Jurassic Period - some 190 million years ago! This is Fossil Country. In the areas around Lyme Regis and Charmouth you can literally pick fossils off the beach.
The heritage centre at Charmouth and Dinosaurland in Lyme Regis organise fossil hunting trips. Fossil hunting is especially productive in the winter months as rock falls and high seas continually expose new finds. Try it, the kids (both big and small) will love it.
This part of Dorset is very sparsely populated; it’s an area of little market towns, tiny hamlets and deserted coves. Little wonder the area was so popular with the smugglers of yesteryear. Walkers are rewarded with a stunning and ever changing vista as they wander along the coastal path. The iron-age hill forts at Maiden Castle, Pilsdon pen and Eggardon will thrill historians. The swannery and gardens at Abbotsbury and Abbey and gardens at Chard make for an interesting day out when you are not diving.
The area has a lot to offer the visitor, and that’s just above the surface!
The diving
This area is the least dived part of the Dorset Coastline. Long stretches of high cliffs with little or no access to the coast mean that huge tracts of seabed are as yet unexplored. That said the Charter boats running out of West Bay and Lyme Regis are now starting to open the area up. Beaches at Seatown, Eype, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury and West Bay offer probably more opportunities for shore dives than the rest of the Dorset Coast. Offshore is Dorset’s richest area for unsalvaged wrecks. Many casualties of this centuries wars lie virtually untouched since their sinking. Some are in deep water but many are accessible to the average diver.
West Bay Shore Dive (SY 459 904)
This area gives the opportunity for one of the countries more unusual shore dives. About 90M from the beach and 50M west of the harbour wall is the fossilised remains of a forest. The petrified tree stumps have been estimated to be 30,000 years old.
East Tennants Reef (50 39.12N; 02 52.75W)
Thought by many to be the most scenic dive in Dorset. This reef lies in an area of outstanding visibility and its Northern edge is a forest of sea fans. The reef is encrusted with Dead men’s fingers, anemones, sponges and corals. Fish life is abundant.
Ailsa Craig (50 33.66N; 02 47.46W)
This British steamship was torpedoed whilst carrying a cargo of coal from Cardiff to Weymouth in April 1918. She was sunk just under four miles due west of the Pomeranian and on the same day. The bows of the Ailsa Craig are upright and stand eight metres high. The stern is badly damaged and twisted over on to its starboard side. She lies N.E. to S.W. at 35 metres.
The Pomeranian (50 33.66N; 02 47.46W)
This 381ft, 4240-ton liner was en route from London to Newfoundland when she was torpedoed in April 1918. 55 lives were lost. Included in her cargo was a consignment of divers' helmets and smelting crucibles manufactured by Royal Doulton. She lies at a depth of 35 metres and is upright and complete.
Moidart (50 34.02N; 02 47.22W)
This armed merchant steamship was torpedoed in June 1918 and lies just 650M north east of the Ailsa Craig. She is some 30Oft long, and lies N.W./S.E. at a depth of 35 metres. She stands 8 metres off the seabed.
Baygitano (50 41.76N; 02 55.97W).
This large British collier lies at 18 M about 1 1/2 miles due south of The Cobb at Lyme Regis. She was torpedoed in March 1918. Although now somewhat broken, she is still recognisable as a ship, and parts of her stand 5 metres off the bottom giving good cover for a multitude of fish.
HMS Boadicea (50 25.70N; 02 45.90W)
This Royal Navy Destroyer was sunk in 1944 by an aerial torpedo that hit the forward magazine blowing off the bow. She sank immediately and only 12 of her 150 crew survived. This war grave sits upright in 52m and stands 6m off the seabed.
Submarine Sidon (50 23.22N; 02 40.06W).
This British 'S' class submarine sank twice. The first time was in Portland Harbour in June 1955, after an explosion in her torpedo bay. She was later raised, but was sunk again intentionally in 1957 for use as an ASDIC target. She lies N.W./S.E. at a depth of 34 metres and rises 8 metres off the seabed . She is intact, and makes an excellent dive.
It is possible to dive the wrecks of the Salsette and the M2 from Lyme Regis or West bay. These are described in more detail in the Weymouth & Portland section on this website.
Weather and Tides
Currents in Lyme bay are not particularly strong and the best time to dive is between 5 & 6 hours after high water at Devonport.
Tidal predictions for the area are available by following this link.
The coastline of Lyme Bay mainly faces South, a strong blow from the Southern half can bring quite a swell to shore sites and can have a seriously detrimental effect on visibility which in settled periods often exceeds 10 metres with offshore sites being even better. The inshore forecast can be viewed by following this link
Inshore forecast Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
Admiralty Charts
Chart 3315 - Berry Head to Portland Bill
Launch sites
There are numerous launch sites in the area. A small boat or rib can often be launched where access to beaches or coves is possible by road.
Monmouth Beach (SY 337 915)
Free launching is possible from this beach which lies just to the west of the Cobb (harbour) at Lyme Regis
The Cobb, Lyme Regis (SY 338 916)
There is a public launching facility at the harbour. Be warned though that there is a fine for taking cars onto the quay! Though this can be done with the permission of the harbourmaster.
Charmouth Beach (SY 365 903)
Boats can be launched from this quiet beach. There is a tarmac carpark at the top level and small boats can then be wheeled or carried across the shingle to the sea.
Harbour at West bay (SY463 904)
At the head of the harbour is a substantial slipway where vehicles can launch boats from trailers directly into the water.
Dive Shops, Gas and Charter boats
It should be borne in mind that the western part of Dorset is very rural in nature and that services for divers are therefore not as widely available as say in Weymouth. However air is available from the two operations listed below.
Aqua Blue Divers, Unit 2, Tannery Rd, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3TP 01308 422105
aquabluedivers@yahoo.co.uk
West bay Water sports, 10A West Bay, Bridport 01308 421800
sales@anglingmailorder.com
When diving this area the services of a good charter boat Skipper is invaluable. The boat skippers in this area will go the extra mile to make your visit to the area as pleasurable as possible. They will assist you with finding accommodation in the area and will meet your air, Nitrox or Trimix needs by providing an overnight filling service. They will also be pleased to help you out with accurate tide timings.
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ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
George Hotel. 18 George Street, West Bay. 01308 423191
Haddon House Hotel. West Bay. 01308 423626
West Bay Hotel. Station Road West Bay. 01308 422157
B & B
Durbyfield Guest House. 10 West Bay, Bridport 01308 423307
Charnwood Guest House 21 Woodmead Road, Lyme Regis 01297 445281
Seacroft, 24 West Bay Bridport Dorset DT6 4HD 01308 423407
Heatherbell Cottage, Hill Close, West Cliff, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset. DT6 4HW 01308 422998
Tourist Information
Further information on accommodation and things to do in this area can be found at the west Dorset Tourist information site
http://www.westdorset.com
How to get here
Road access to this part of the Dorset Coast has improved considerably in recent years. Roads have been improved and widened in many areas between Poole and Lyme Regis. Dorchester & Bridport have been bypassed, but this can still be quite a difficult drive in single carriage roads, especially if you are towing the club rib!
From London and the East follow the M3, M27, A35 & A31 to Bridport or Lyme Regis.
From the North or West easiest access is Via the M5 & A35
SW England page
UK main page
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SW England page
Boats at Lyme Bay
Bridport
Lyme regis
Lyme Regis from the sea
West Bay harbour
Seatown
A storm over Lyme Bay
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