|
It's never a poor dive in the Menai. Visibility is typically not so good but it's packed with life.
Introduction
This is an amazing dive, catch the current right and you drift South West for about 20 minutes and then drift back North East, with a bit of luck you end up right where you started.
Entry Point. Note the yellow diamond telephone cable markers behind you and on the other side of the straits.
 |
Slack water
Timing is critical on this dive if you want to avoid a walk home. Dive at neaps, slack water is about three hours before Liverpool low water slack (see table) You need to be entering the water about 20 minutes before that.
 You will drift SW for about 20 minutes, then about 5 minutes of slack and then the current reverses and takes you NE back to the start. A good indication for the right time to
enter the water is to wait until the water
level is within a metre of the end of the wall (see picture right).
The telepone cable runs across the straits between the two yellow markers (see below), it's about 4 inches in diameter and easy to spot. It's a good idea to locate the telephone cable and simply follow it until you are about 15m and then let go and drift away. On the return journey watch out for the cable again and when you hit it follow it NW back towards your entry point.
Services
None really, car parking for about 4 or 5 cars under the bridge on the Anglesey side. Park there, kit up and head along the road NE for about 150 yards you will see a small gate on your right which leads you to the entry point. Please be considerate to the locals.
The nearest dive shop is Mike's at Trearrdur Bay. If you want a second dive try following the road North East for about half a mile until you hit the Menai Bridge slipway, there is a sheltered mooring area worthy of a dive but stay away from the main stream current. Alternatively you could try Vivian Quarry, Dorothea or Trearrdur Bay. Because of the hight currents through there, the straits are teaming with sea life, some amazing sponges, huge varieties of crabs and anemonies, even the odd lobster.
Safety
You are strongly advised to use a SMB and ground cover or better still boat cover. If your timing is out you may end up with quite a walk home.
We dive it regularly and get an average depth of about 16m in the middle.
Visibility is usually not so good but the underwater scenery certainly makes up for it.
How to get there
You can enter Anglesey via either bridge and make your way to the bottom of the Menai bridge (the Northern of the two) on the Anglesey side. [Map].
|
