Scuba Divers in the English Lake District

A very picturesque area with an unclassified road leading around this lake. Few visitors to the lakes ever find the back road around Thirlmere (known as the West road). Thirlmere is surrounded by conifer trees running up the hillside on the unclassified road side of the Reservoir, whilst mature conifers run along the length of the Reservoir on the opposite side (main A591 road).

Coming off the A591, along the unclassified West road leading over Thirlmere Dam, are trails for dog walking, and walking up over the mountain. Keen canoeists can access the lake as per divers via the car parking areas.

Guest houses and Hotel's can be found at Keswick, Grasmere and Ambleside. On the western side of Thirlmere along the unclassified West road there is also a caravan and camping site.

For more details use one of the links here. Simply enter the name of this lake, village or town into the web site search window that appears. Hotels and Guest Houses Youth Hostels for Families etc.

From Keswick, follow the A591 towards Thirlmere. As you approach Thirlmere, a simple sign states: "Road around lake". Grab it and you'll find yourself driving on an unclassified single track road across the Thirlmere reservoir dam. (If coming from Ambleside / Grasmere end - pass the first "Road around lake" sign and take second one). Immediately over and on your right after the dam is the first of several small car parks / lay-bys offering lakeside access.

Clickable map! >
Property of the National Trust
United Utilities Permission Required
Disabled divers will find access is possible.
Fell walkers and canoeists will have a wonderful day!

Information on this lake is at present very scant. Presumably Perch and trout will be found in this lake. Quite simply, no one appears to have dived here. Perhaps this is because of the cost involved - see below.

The Deergarth How Island holds out as the best site to dive in Thirlmere, but, this Reservoir is seldom dived and therefor remains vastly undiscovered. It's the "undiscovered country" - as Kirk and Spock might say!

Access and use is free to all other users - only we poor, impoverished, hard-up divers have to pay (the author)

A number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) are around this reservoir meaning you will not be allowed to dive these areas. In any event there is no access to the shore from these SSSI sites in any event.

This lake is the property of United Utilities Plc.
UU respectfully point out that LIMITED diving is available at Thirlmere. Diving is allowed on condition that you apply for their diving permit. As of April 2004, the "charge per group is £49" and that requests should be made to the address at the base of this page - Instructions are held in the clickable "United Utilities Permission Required" document found beside our Thirlmere map above.

Lake Altitude at 671 feet (179 metres). She runs to a depth of 40 metres by the dam.

Torches: Advisable if diving Not required. Very light and clear.

Thermoclines: None observed.

If new to freshwater diving: this is a near ideal introduction to the lakes with good visibility and easy access, although for disabled divers, a gate will need to be negotiated past. Access to the shore by wheel chair is not possible so you'll need the buddy system to get youy down there. Lakebed is of medium silt.

Penrith Divers: Penrith based. Air compressor at Penrith.
West Lakes Sub-Aqua: Cockermouth based club. Air compressor sited at Cockermouth.
Red Fox Carlisle based. Air compressor location. unknown
Carlisle Sub Aqua Carlisle based. Air compressor at Carlisle.

West Cumbria: branch is based at Egremont.
Solway divers: branch is based at Whitehaven.
Kendal + Lakes: branch is based at Kendal Leisure Centre.

For more details see "Dive Clubs & Air" page.

Note: This page will remain open while you click to gather Air info above.

Visibility: no data..

Temperature range: no data.

Visibility: no data..

Temperature range: no data..

Mobile phones do not work in the dive area.

Public phones: none found in this area.

For the latest on the weather: "Scuba Weather Report"

Nearest toilet: Dob Gill car park (southern end of Thirlmere).
or half way up Thirlmere at the Armboth car park.

For Canoeing contact relevant agency - see links page for non divers.

No powered boats (RIBs etc.) allowed on lake.

United Utilities Plc "United Utilities web site"

Service Delivery
The Old Saw Mill
Thirlmere
Keswick, Cumbria,
CA12 4TQ
Tel: 017687 72334 Fax: 017687 73712

Thirlmere

Thirlmere
General Description A very picturesque area with an unclassified road leading around this lake. Few visitors to the lakes ever find the back road around Thirlmere (known as the West road). Thirlmere is surrounded by conifer trees running up the hillside on the unclassified road side of the Reservoir, whilst mature conifers run along the length of the Reservoir on the opposite side (main A591 road). Other Interests Coming off the A591, along the unclassified West road leading over Thirlmere Dam, are trails for dog walking, and walking up over the mountain. Keen canoeists can access the lake as per divers via the car parking areas. Places to Stay Guest houses and Hotel's can be found at Keswick, Grasmere and Ambleside. On the western side of Thirlmere along the unclassified West road there is also a caravan and camping site. For more details use one of the links here. Simply enter the name of this lake, village or town into the web site search window that appears. Hotels and Guest Houses Youth Hostels for Families etc. How to get here From Keswick, follow the A591 towards Thirlmere. As you approach Thirlmere, a simple sign states: "Road around lake". Grab it and you'll find yourself driving on an unclassified single track road across the Thirlmere reservoir dam. (If coming from Ambleside / Grasmere end - pass the first "Road around lake" sign and take second one). Immediately over and on your right after the dam is the first of several small car parks / lay-bys offering lakeside access.
Clickable map! > Property of the National Trust United Utilities Permission Required Disabled divers will find access is possible. Fell walkers and canoeists will have a wonderful day!
Detailed Information for Divers Viewing Freshwater Life Information on this lake is at present very scant. Presumably Perch and trout will be found in this lake. Quite simply, no one appears to have dived here. Perhaps this is because of the cost involved - see below. Main Attraction The Deergarth How Island holds out as the best site to dive in Thirlmere, but, this Reservoir is seldom dived and therefor remains vastly undiscovered. It's the "undiscovered country" - as Kirk and Spock might say! Dive Planning Help Access and use is free to all other users - only we poor, impoverished, hard-up divers have to pay (the author) A number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) are around this reservoir meaning you will not be allowed to dive these areas. In any event there is no access to the shore from these SSSI sites in any event. This lake is the property of United Utilities Plc. UU respectfully point out that LIMITED diving is available at Thirlmere. Diving is allowed on condition that you apply for their diving permit. As of April 2004, the "charge per group is £49" and that requests should be made to the address at the base of this page - Instructions are held in the clickable "United Utilities Permission Required" document found beside our Thirlmere map above. Altitude and Depth: Lake Altitude at 671 feet (179 metres). She runs to a depth of 40 metres by the dam. Torches: Advisable if diving Not required. Very light and clear. Thermoclines: None observed. If new to freshwater diving: this is a near ideal introduction to the lakes with good visibility and easy access, although for disabled divers, a gate will need to be negotiated past. Access to the shore by wheel chair is not possible so you'll need the buddy system to get youy down there. Lakebed is of medium silt. Air Availability Scottish Sub-Aqua Clubs: Penrith Divers: Penrith based. Air compressor at Penrith. West Lakes Sub-Aqua: Cockermouth based club. Air compressor sited at Cockermouth. Red Fox Carlisle based. Air compressor location. unknown Carlisle Sub Aqua Carlisle based. Air compressor at Carlisle. British Sub-Aqua Clubs: West Cumbria: branch is based at Egremont. Solway divers: branch is based at Whitehaven. Kendal + Lakes: branch is based at Kendal Leisure Centre. For more details see "Dive Clubs & Air" page. Note: This page will remain open while you click to gather Air info above. During summer Visibility: no data.. Temperature range: no data. During winter Visibility: no data.. Temperature range: no data.. Communications Mobile phones do not work in the dive area. Public phones: none found in this area. Useful Information For the latest on the weather: "Scuba Weather Report" Nearest toilet: Dob Gill car park (southern end of Thirlmere). or half way up Thirlmere at the Armboth car park. For Canoeing contact relevant agency - see links page for non divers. No powered boats (RIBs etc.) allowed on lake. United Utilities Plc "United Utilities web site" Service Delivery The Old Saw Mill Thirlmere Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4TQ Tel: 017687 72334 Fax: 017687 73712 Alt navigation:-
\| Map of Cumbria \| Armboth 1 \| Deergarth Island 2\| Dob Gill 3\|