Great Britain

Map

Not to be missed

• Porth yr Ogof →

  A well-known cave in South Wales with a shallow sump to 7 m, suitable for less experienced divers too and diveable without the CDG.

• Dinas Silica Mine (Upper Dinas) →

  A mine to 22 m with water at about 7 °C and usually (very) good visibility, diveable without the CDG.

• Wookey Hole →

  Mendip's famous sump to 90 m, only via the CDG and for experienced full cave divers.

• Keld Head →

  The classic sump of the Yorkshire Dales; you need permission from the farmer at Braida Garth and your CDG card.

• Hodge Close Quarry →

  A quarry in the Lake District to 32 m with water at 4–6 °C that is usually clear, a good option for less experienced divers.

Regions

• South Wales and MendipCaves and mines between the Brecon Beacons and the Mendip Hills: the shallow sumps of Porth yr Ogof, the freely accessible Dinas silica mine, the deep Noxon Park iron mine in the Forest of Dean (via the local access agreement) and Wookey Hole, the birthplace of cave diving (only via the CDG).4 sites · down to 90 m
• Yorkshire DalesThe classic resurgences around Ingleton — Keld Head (with the farmer's permission, via the CDG), Hurtle Pot (free) and the closed Joint Hole — plus the flooded slate mine of Hodge Close in the Lake District: cold water (4–7 °C), often limited visibility and strongly dependent on dry weather.4 sites · down to 35 m

Good to know

• Almost all sites are on private land and you need the owner's permission. The CDG knows the current arrangements; one careless visit can close a site for everyone.
• Overseas cave divers can only get temporary CDG membership. Wookey Hole is only via the CDG; Keld Head preferably with a local CDG member.
• The CDG recommends solo diving in British sumps, because no British sump allows unimpeded buddy diving. Expect many branch lines; sidemount, helmet, hand-held lights and permanent 4 mm lines are the norm. Only dive this way if you are trained and experienced for it.
• In sumps the water is rarely above 7 °C and often around 4 °C, with 1–2 m visibility as normal. The mines usually have much better visibility.
• BCA membership includes public liability insurance. Forest of Dean permits are issued to BCA members only.

Tips for safe and enjoyable diving

• Only dive after a dry spell. Porth yr Ogof turns into a raging river after rain, Hurtle Pot floods dramatically in spate and Keld Head needs weeks of dry weather for good visibility.
• Gas in the south: Vobster Quay and Cardiff Scuba (trimix with at least 3 hours' notice). In the north: Capernwray Diving Centre and a shop in Manchester. No trimix fill station is known in the Neath valley: bring O₂ and diluent.
• Emergency: call 999 or 112. For an accident in a cave or mine, ask for the police and say it is a cave rescue. For a diving accident on land: National Diving Accident Helpline 07831 151 523 (24 h).
• Wales has no chamber; the nearest are Plymouth and Rugby for the south, and Birkenhead and Hull for the north.
• Rest day: Porth yr Ogof is also a popular dry caving trip, and Wookey Hole is a show cave.

Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.

News

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