We're expecting some fairly big swell this weekend, possibly 6ft in certain places in South Wales and we have some Southerlies and Westerlies on us too. Add the unsettled conditions we've had over the last few days and the tidal movement and conditions don't look too good for scuba diving on the coast of South Wales.
You may find acceptable diving conditions on Sunday in some of the sheltered bays, such as Stackpole Quay or Oxwich Bay but you need to stay aware of wind direction and speed and the conditions we've seen over the last few days will mean visibility is likely to be poor. If you do end up diving off the coast, make you remember the rule of twelfths and always dive on the incoming tide, which this weekend will be mid to late afternoon.
If you want to get a dive in, the best option is to head inland. The National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC) in Chepstow will offer you a dive that isn't as affected by the environmental conditions or if you want to try an inland site outside of South Wales, there's always Vobster Quay in Somerset for you.
Once again a break in training the students this weekend, however our instructors are back out doing their own training. They'll be completing the practical part of the RLSS Water Management Level 2 course which covers all of the water types we dive in, including still water, rivers and sea.
CAUTIONS – We're still going to need to take sensible precautions with regards to thermal protection as water temperatures are still only going to be around the 10°C mark in both the sea and inland sites. With the strong winds we are expecting and reasonably low temperatures you also need to think about protection whilst you're out of the water too. If you are planning to dive off the coast in South Wales, ensure you are aware of the changing conditions, making sure you know the conditions for both the beginning and the end of the dive.