Dive
Pembrokeshire UK
Predator
Launching
Sites.
Little Haven
A
sheltered seaside village which was once engaged in mining and coal exporting
from local mines. A popular fishing resort with a concrete slipway with access
straight into the water at one and half hours either side of HW. At low tides
you can launch from the beach, but with care. Launching should be made to
the right of the beach where the sand is firmer. Open to westerlies winds.
Ideal when Sheltered to North / Northeast / South and South East winds.
Car parking is nearby where
you are able to change and set up. The slipway is used by the Little Haven
Lifeboat, so the slipway should be kept clear at all times. Their are plenty
of local pubs which supply hot food. A fee is payable to launch to
the Little Haven Boating Association, ask at the cafe in the village. The
fee is about £10.00 per year.
Broad Haven.
A
seaside village with a large sandy beach, popular with holiday makers and
windsurfers. Good fishing for Bass and Mackerel. Has a small concrete slipway
with access to the water at high tides only. A large beach of firm sand which
can be used at low water for launching, cars can be taken on the beach but
have to be removed asap. The car park facilities are smaller than that of
Little Haven, but can be used for changing in. The Galleon Inn close by supplies
good food, and has a Curry menu on Thursday evenings. There is also the Royal
Inn. Toilets are situated in the car park. There is a shop in the village,
selling mainly food with an off licence. A fish and chip shop opens in the
summer months.
St Brides.
Has
a rough track down to a small bay which can be accessed with 4 wheel drive
vehicles. I have recovered my 7 metres rib here and it just makes it up the
pathway to the car park. Take care at the bottom of this lane where it meets
the beach, there are some rocky steps which should be treated with caution.
Sandy beach at Low water, but there are small rocks at the top of the beach.
Access is possibly with inflatable boats and can be launched and recovered
with a little help. The only facilities are some toilets next to the church.
A pleasant and lovely little bay, ideal for shore diving and training. A good
base for training with some nice diving to be had around to the right of the
bay. Depths out around the corner of the Bay will only reach about
8 metres. There are no currents to worry about.
Martins Haven.
Quite a steep road down
to the pebble beach. No sand, but a small slipway, which is only accessible
to water at HW springs. Boats can be launched with the help of 4 wheel drive
vehicles across the large pebbles, but can be a struggle. A good shore dive
can be had from here, going down to over twenty metres off to the left. Cars
to be parked on top in the NT car park.
Solva.
A pretty little village
with a pretty sheltered harbour, home to lots of sailing boats. Harbour entrance
faces West, so exposed to strong westerlies. Good slipway at the height of
the tide. Low water can be quite a track out. A second slip is available at
the boat club, which gives access 2 hours either side of LW. There is a small
charge for launching. The locals however do not like divers and can give you
the cold shoulder, but they have no right to stop you launching your boat.
The village has some nice local Inns, one of them right along side the car
park at the edge of the water. Toilets are based in the car park, which can
get very busy in the holiday season and should be avoided..
Porthclais. 51 51.9 N 05
16.7 W
A
sheltered harbour with a small car park. Toilet facilities near by. To find
the harbour head out of St David's passing the Cathedral to your right. Launching
and recovery can be made at any time. A sand and stony harbour floor makes
it possible to drive right down to the harbour wall. Four wheel drives are
not essential. There is also a small charge to use the slipway. Sheltered
from the NW, N to NE winds. Ideal for trips to Ramsey island.
There is camping above
the harbour, with toilets and a good shower. Ribs can be kept in the field.
Glan Y Mor campsite and dive centre is not far away, the owner is a diver
called Clive. Her he has a shop and can supply air, and Nitrox if required.
There is an excellent restaurant at The Warpole Court Hotel, and a good pub
lunch can be had at the St Non`s.
Porthgain.
An old mining quarry with
some of the workings and buildings still standing. A lovely place to explore,
full of history. The Sloop Inn nestles into the valley only yards from the
harbour. The slipway is good for launching at most states of the tide. Exposed
to NW winds. Sheltered from the East and SE winds.
Dale.
A
pretty little village with a very good Inn supplying good food. A concrete
slipway extends to the low water mark, and a pontoon for tying up the boats
is available. A nearby car park is available for changing. Toilets are available
along side the sea front. Launching and recovery can be made at any state
of the tide. Sheltered from most winds. A good place to launch from when diving
along the coast towards St Govan`s Head and Skomer Island. Plenty of facilities
makes this a very busy place in the summer. At LW springs the tide goes a
long way out, making for a long walk back!
Gelliswick.
Home of the Pembrokeshire
Yacht Club. The concrete slip extends well out, and is wide enough for two
boats side by side. There was a pontoon available and cars can be driven to
it for loading and unloading, this has now gone. Toilets are available along
side the road. There is no car park, but cars can be parked along the side
of the road.
Recovery possible at LW
as the sand is quite firm off the end of the slipway.
Whitesands Bay.
A car park nearby can get
quite crowded in the holiday season. Launching is done from the beach. Westerly
winds should be avoided as the surf can be quite big, making it difficult
to launch and recover. A large beach area, overlooked by a golf course. Toilets
and refreshments are available near the car park.
Abercastle.
A sheltered bay with a
small slipway. The cove is quite sandy and launching is possible with a four
wheel dive vehicle. Toilets and a small car park are available next to the
slipway.
Pwllgwaelod Dinas Rock.
A sandy beach reached down
a windy lane. Just north of Fishguard, and ideal for diving around Dinas Rock.
A small reef just out of the little bay at 6 metres is ideal for Novices.
Sheltered from most winds. The car park is alongside the beach. Can be quite
full in the summer. A nice walk can be had around Dinas Rock with spectacular
views of Fishguard. The walk takes you right around the Island and back again
through a small valley.
Goodwick Fishguard.
A concrete slipway reached
from the roundabout just past Goodwick Marine. Has good launching and recovery
facilities, with a car park and toilets. There is a gate of one and half hours
each side of high water, which is one hour after Milford. This would be greater
at neap tides.
Angle.
A small slipway on the
way out to the Angle Lifeboat station can be used at high water only. Close
by is a nice little Inn on the waters edge.
Milford.
A small slip to the right
of the Marina, with access down a narrow lane. Not ideal but suitable for
smaller boats. With Gelliswick just around the corner this is not often used
Milford Dock.
To the left of the marina
behind a row of retail units which overlook the sea, there is a small slipway
which cannot be seen from the roadway. At low water the bottom of the slip
extends too near the wall way to make launching possible..
Abereiddi Beach.
A sandy beach with some
facilities. No good to launch when the wind is westerly. Strong surf makes
it very difficult.
Stackpole Quay.
A pretty little area with
its own harbour. Launching is possible and provides access to dive sites to
the east of Milford Haven. The dramatic coastline around here is beautiful,
and the place is well worth a visit.
Pembrokeshire Water Sports Centre
A area just across the Neyland Bridge
at Llanion. Its a water sports centre run by the Pembrokeshire CC. There is
a good slipway with access to the sea at LW.
Neyland Y C.
A slipway here can be used with permission
from the YC. The club is just before the turning to the Neyland Marina.
