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Tips for… Drift Diving

Published 4 years agoon April 1, 2022

Drift diving… quite possibly our favourite type and by far the best diving that we have open to us in our area, The Menai Strait. Now this article isn’t meant for the Menai, but it is one of the best. With a short tidal window to explore and over 100,000 difference species found within the 18 mile stretch of water, how can it not be?

It is the current that makes sites such as this so special, bringing a vast amount of nutrients into the area for the eco-system to thrive and in turn for us to explore…. Pretty cool, right?

So, how about diving here then? Or maybe not just this site, but any drift site. Always looked to do it but been put off by the flowing water? Well, that’s understandable but actually, believe it or not, it is a lot easier… if planned correctly…

Drift diving can be so much fun, being able to start at one point and get out at another, enjoying the scenic marine life views as you gradually make your way towards the exit point; sheltering behind areas such as rocks out of the flow, once you have found that cool tompot blenny or crab to take a quick snap of. Many divers that we have coming to the Menai always say how it is the best diving that they have done, chilled out with so much to see, and we agree with them!

Clearly drift diving relies heavily upon planning. Being able to undertake the famous ‘boomerang’ dive in the Menai, drifting one way there and one way back, can only be taken on certain tides. And to be fair, any drift dive in the Menai can only be undertaken at a certain time and tide too, with planning an entry and exit (as well as a back-up) and therefore making sure that you know the drift area, and maybe on some occasions even having boat cover or definitely shore cover!

But if you are not sure, don’t let that put you off…. We all had to start somewhere, and had at some point or another had not got a drift dive under our belt. Plus, there are plenty of guides here to take you or even divers with local knowledge. So, what are you waiting for?!

Find out more at www.duttonsdivers.com

Duttons Divers

Located in North Wales, and nearly 10 years in the business, Duttons Divers operate two of the largest PADI Dive Centres in the UK, and specialise in course tuition from beginner to instructor levels, as well as guided shore & boat dives. The centre is led by PADI Course Director Clare Dutton and RYA Skipper Jean Dutton.