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UK Inland Diving

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Dive Site: Capernwray Quarry


Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
Trout at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
The Dreamer at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
Cessna at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
VW Beetle at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
Diving Bell at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
Shergar at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
The African Queen at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Paul Shuttleworth
The Dreamer at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Steve Wyke
Divers at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Martin & Tracy Frankcom
Fish at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Martin & Tracy Frankcom
Fish at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Martin & Tracy Frankcom
Boat wreck and diver at Capernwray Quarry - Courtesy of Tony Foster

Location: Jackdaw Quarry, Capernwray Road
Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6 1AD

Description: Inland quarry

Depth: 20 metres max (65 feet)

Visibility: 5 metres (15 feet)

Rating: ****

Although it does not have the depth of some of the more southern inland sites, it has excellent facilities. There is more to see than at Stoney Cove. The wreck of the former minesweeper, HMS Podsnap, was there long before Stoney sank the Stangarth. The topside facilities are excellent.

Location map


John Green, BSAC Advanced Instructor



Capernwray Quarry is my local and most used dive site at present. It's too close to be ignored!! Visibility can vary from 1m (the 'sump' on a busy weekend) to 15m (midweek). Winter temps are in the region of 4-5°c and in summer can reach 17-19°c! The facilities are great (hot shower, hot food, hot coffee), a nicely stocked onsite dive shop (if a little expensive) and also gas fills (air, nitrox and trimix). I would recommend it to any diver, new and old.

Paul Shuttleworth



Rating: *****

Very good, I went in December doing my open water, since I have got my advancer open water. Good visibility and good wrecks to dive.

Adam Bayliss



Very good for beginners and more experienced divers, been there several times there's many things to see and excellent facilities including hot showers.

Hughesy



I dived this site in late July 2005 - my first dive after achieving my Advanced Open Water. My buddy and I shocked a couple of Geordies in drysuits as we stepped out of the water wearing only wetsuits! The water temperature was fine all the way to the bottom. Nice clear water due to the gravely bottom. There's plenty to see there. We'll definitely be returning to see the parts we missed after our two dives. Would definitely recommend this site.

Chris Taylor



Enjoyed my Open Water Diver course here in January 2006, despite the cold at 4°C. Loved sitting over the wing of the Cessna. Loved swimming with the rainbow trout and the facilities were great5. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Colin Rothwell



Just completed my open water dive here last weekend and enjoyed it very much.

Loads of fish at shallower depths and managed to get round Shergar, The African Queen and a few other interesting things, still to visit the gnomes though, looks like I’ll be back soon then. Visibility was good, around 5m and although the temperature was around 4 degrees I only really noticed it on the mask flood (ouch).

Facilities good, nothing better than wrapping your hands round a hot mug of coffee while you wait for a fill...!

Harlequin



My husband and I completed our Open Water Diver here, and have split our Advanced between here and Stoney Cove. Since Advanced, we have been coming here at least once a fortnight. Have dived Capernwray in various temperatures and visibilities. A great learning ground.

Angela Robson



Travelled from the midlands to dive this site and it was well worth the trip. Loads to see and visibility even on a busy Sunday was better than expected. Great facilities dry side too. I will be back soon.

Steve Wyke



I first dived Capernwray in 2000 when you used to change into your dry suit in the toilets. The facilities are 1000 times better now. It’s a great place for training and trying new gear if you can’t get to a pool.

Ian Higgins, PADI Assistant Instructor



Just the best inland site on the planet if you're teaching or just having a good weekend. This place has got everything, on top of that the staff/food and facilities are great too.

Tony Watson



Did my open water here weekend just gone. Brilliant time, a great place to go just for a quick brush up on your skills.

Liam Smith



I completed most of my elementary and open water training throughout the spring of 2007 at Capernwray and loved every minute of it. Great atmosphere and good facilities. Overall a great training environment that has been popular for our SAA club throughout the winter months when our Newcastle coastline isn't accessible.

Gary Wilson



I went to Capenwray last weekend, it was great.

Hannah Feeney



Love the trout, nothing like feeding them a bit of sweetcorn after a nice, relaxing dive and stroking their shiney scales as they swim by! They do bite though!

Louisa Townsend



Completed my open water here last weekend. Great site with good facilities. Visibility was good for the first day and second morning, but was terrible after lunch the second day (there were loads of divers at that point though).

Paul Cartmell



I dived at Caperwray in a semi dry and i was fine, the dive facilities are great. I loved the wrecks and the vis is great. The fish are very friendly too.

Lawrie Deville, Open Water



Dived here for the first time last weekend. I think the site is fantastic, well done. The trout tasted good too. Looking forward to the caviar! (Only joking)

Tony



Finished my open water here January 2008. Visibility was about 8 metres and the water was nice n cold. Looking forward to getting back soon for my advanced hopefully in March. Nice to be able to get a hot shower and a hot drink, great place to dive.

Daz



We finished our open water courses here in January, great facilities and good visibility, looking forward to completing advanced and rescue diver courses. We'll be back.

Sue & Michael Lewis



As a diver from the Midlands, Stoney Cove is closer for me but I still prefer the longer trek up to Capernwray. The car park is close to the water and there's always space to park. The viz is much better than Stoney and the site is just small enough to be able to get your bearings. Dived it several times in winter with only a semi-dry and it was only the face and hands that got cold (hardcore BSAC diver, that's why!) Free showers, tasty food - perfect.

Matt Harrison, BSAC Sports Diver



Dived here for the first time March 2008 as an open water diver. Wow, amazing, coming again soon. Staff were really helpful.

Mick



What a dive site, I completed my open water here last year. I have been back the beginning of April 2008 and they have improved the facilities further with a new toilet and shower block. Excellent site, a must go dive site!!! Well done to the owners and staff for making it a great all round dive site.

Gary



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