Swanage has long been used by divers as the access point for some great wrecks such as the Kyarra, Carrentan and Firth Fisher to name just a few. This page is intended to provide divers with diving information and links that will help you plan your trip to Swanage.
Swanage Boat Charters operates from the Swanage pier and runs two boats. Mary Jo is run as a shuttle boat on a 2 hour turn around to the most popular dive sites around Swanage. Sidewinder is run as a charter boat and can be booked for clubs and groups of divers that want to do some of the less accessable but just as interesting wrecks around Swanage. Check out thier website www.kyarra.com There are many camp sites, hotels and B & B's in Swanage to match all budgets. Swanage is not just a diving location but a popular holiday destination as well. As such you should be aware that of the places available to stay, many only accept bookings for a minimum of 2 nights. This includes Buddies at peak times. You should therefor plan accordingly and plan ahead. Parking on the pier is the most conovienient place for divers and the charges per car are the same as the public car park nearest to the pier. If you want to take advantage of the pier parking you will have to get up early and que for a place, particularly at weekends. We normally suggest to our guests that one member of the party does the parking run and then walks back to Buddies for breakfast as we are close to the town and pier. The pier trust also charge for access to the pier itself and the money contributes to the maintenance and running of the pier. All those that work on the pier are volentiers. In addition there are trolly's for divers kit. If you are using your own boat and wish to use the pier's boat decks then you will need to pay the boat berthing fee. Currently thier is only one place in Swanage, located on the pier, that you can get your tanks filled, Divers Down.
Pier Entry Charges for Adults
Strollers 40p per day
Divers £2.00 per day
Anglers £2.00 per day
Car Parking £6 all day
Boat Berthing £3 per boat, per visit
Air Fill Charges
Pony cylinder 3L £2.50
Cylinder 7L £2.80
Cylinder 10-12L £3.30
Cylinder 15L £3.50
Twin 7L (manifolded) £3.50
Twin10-12L (manifolded) £5.50
Twin 15L (manifolded) £6.00
Nitrox Charges
Cylinder 10-l2L up to 39% £ 7.50
Cylinder 10-12L 40%-50% £ 8.50
Cylinder 15L up to 39% £ 8.50
Cylinder 15L 40%-50% £ 9.50
7L 40% - 60% £7.50
3L 100% O2 £7.50
Twin 7L (manifolded) up to 39% £ 9.00
Twin 10L (manifolded) up to 39% £12.00
Twin 12L (manifolded) up to 39% £13.00