A rather bleak area on a dull day, yet rugged and picturesque when sunny. An unclassified road runs around the northern side of this lake which is popular with walkers / ramblers. The mountain face on the opposite shoreline is called the screes. The remains of a small aircraft that crashed there a few years back, has now been swallowed up by the lake.

For non diving members there is not a lot to do here in the rain. Although the Li'al Ratty is not too far away. This is a miniture gauge railway with covered carriages ready to roll if the rain comes. On a sunny day you'll here the fox hunting horns blowing and dogs yelping and barking after their pray. And if we are about, you'll hear us miming those sounds in what is often a successful attempt to distract them. With binoculars to hand looking up at the mountain and the hunt leader looking over the top of the mountain at us that says it all with his grimacing face full of frustration.

Not had time to check buddy - sorry about that, but asked in Gosforth village.

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

Driving along the A595 between Whitehaven and Ravenglass the road sign you are looking for is the Gosforth sign. Take the road to Gosforth.

If you need any supplies on the way, pick them up at Gosforth village. Food is on the right, and toilets are on the left along with the public phone (circa 3 or 4 miles away from dive site). Oh, you might have noticed in the triangular square area you drove through - three pubs all facing each other on opposite sides of the road. A good place to fill in those log books after your dive. Pub crawls have a different meaning in this part of the world when they are in staggering distance of each other but don't worry, no one gets that bad here.

Carry on following this road until after a few miles of undulating road you come down to the lake. As you drop down to the lake you will come upon the Greendale signpost with Wasdale, Stanton Bridge etc to the right and Wasdale Head to the left. Go left and pull off at either the first, second or third lay-by. Note that these can be easily missed because only rocks are used to mark the fact they are there.

No Permission Required.
Disabled divers will find this lake offers "as good as it gets" accessibility. Please view the photos.

The trout, perch, stickleback and minnow can be chanced upon during the day
but only if you are lucky. I have personally never seen any in this lake.

Cold, clear water with the major feature being the magnificent and dramatic submerged mountain face that descends to a depth well beyond 'air' limits - and I know some of you will deny that the limit for air is at 50 metres, that it is somewhere below this. Silt is inevitably but thanks to its density, clear waters are guaranteed unless you are doing training work in the same area for a while. The sea breeze can become pretty strong here. Not pleasant when it rains.

Kindly note that Permission is no longer required from the National Park Authority warden for this lake. Warden is: Colin Lindsay: Wastwater (01946) 726110

Disabled divers and instructors may find the entry points on the challenging side, but please check the photographs to make your own conclusions.

Sea level dive at just 61 metres above Sea level.

Max depth is 76 metres in this lake. Best left to technical divers.

Torches: not essential at this site even at 50 metres though useful at greater depths.

Thermoclines no strong effects have been noted.

If new to freshwater diving: this is the perfect introduction to the lakes with perfect visibility. Easy access to the shore, especially for disabled divers and others. Fine shingle beaches although you are quickly into silt. Shallow depths down to 15 metres before she slopes away affords a safe training area ideal for trainees. but little to see in it except for gnomes and some weed.

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

West Lakes Sub-Aqua: Cockermouth based club. Air compressor sited at Cockermouth.

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

Visibility: 25 + metres.

Temperature range is 10 - 12 degrees Celsius.

Visibility improves to 30 + metres.

Temperature is 4 - 5 degrees above zero.

For Anglers: contact Angling Association. Groups of Windsurfers are under the same rules as divers on this lake.

No powered boats allowed on lake.

Gosforth village is a handy stopping place for toilets and picking up food and drinks. Their is a public toilet down on the lake and can be reached by traveling along the road heading Westward (as if heading back to Gosforth but stay on the road running along the lake.

Nearest toilet: In Gosforth.

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

National Park Authority "Visitor centre contact listing"

Please read the "National Park Country Code

NT Address:- National Trust HQ
The Hollens, Grasmere, Ambleside,
Cumbria, LA22 9SW. Tel: 015394 35599.
Or Email: enquiries(at)ntrust.org.uk

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