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Dive
Site
Dorothea
- NW Wales
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The
featured site here is Dorothea in N. Wales. Dorothea is a disused
quarry set in the foothills of Snowdonia.
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 Where
: To get there follow the A487 south from Caernarfon
until you get to Penygroes. Turn left onto the B4418. The site
is well hidden and cannot be seen from the road. There are two
entrances - one from the Talysarn side and the other at the
Nantlle side. Both entrances serve the same track to the car
park.
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Facilities:
Currently there are no facilities here although some developments
have taken place. The main entry point was at the base of a
steep, well-worn, clay track. The track has now been concreted
and a large, flat concreted platform exists at the bottom. The
track still is very steep which is a problem if your kit is
particularly heavy.
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Entry
/ Depths : The main entry point is the best place to
dive from, as this side of the quarry has the more manageable
depths for all grades of diver, and is probably the most interesting
area. The diagram (right) shows all the depths that are possible.
It shows a rough idea of the underwater layout. The quarry bottom
(along the left side) gently shelves between the indicated depths
(from the entry point). Right of the entry point and towards
the centre, the quarry bottom drops sharply beyond the 50m maximum
depth for air divers.
The
two marked entry points, on the diagram, are the only places
you can enter the water. The sides of the quarry are sheer with
drops of around 30m or more. The second entry point (marked
red) is good to access an area known as the 'Pinnacles' - to
the right in about 15-20m. The second entry point should be
considered by experienced divers only as there are drop offs
to some of the deepest depths.
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What's
here ?: The shallow area (6m) around the main entry point
(green circle) does have some life. Large shoals of small fish,
tadpoles and newts all can be found here where the vegetation
meets the waters edge. This area is also a dumping ground for
vehicles. Across from the entry point there is a short tunnel
(marked yellow) through the outcrop at 22m. This can easily
accommodate a pair of divers and presents no danger. Dotted around
the bottom are pieces of evidence of previous activities of the
site - bits of machinery ,cables etc. Below the tunnel at 27m
are small stone buildings. At greater depths, towards the centre,
there are some features such as ladders, but these are at the
extreme depths (50+ m).
Visibility
can vary, but 10-15m visibility is common away from the entry
points - where the bottom gets stirred up by divers entering
and exiting the water.
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Summary:
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Doesn't cost anything (at the
moment)
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Usually good visibility
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Caters for wide range of experience
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DANGEROUS depths exist |
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No facilities
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Remote (no air on site : take
extra air tanks for 2nd dives)
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Access - the hill to and from
the entry point is very steep
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