Sources · Destination Guide

Dorset Coast (Swanage, Weymouth and Portland)

Train under a pier, drop onto historic wrecks, and surface beside the Jurassic Coast

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Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Dorset Coast (Swanage, Weymouth and Portland)

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

43 sources • Updated Sep 4, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 4, 2026.

Swanage Pier Trust: Diving and Water Sports - Official pier access, sheltered dive-zone description, depth guidance, and current heritage diving charges.
Swanage Boat Charters - Local hardboat operator overview covering wreck, reef, scenic, and drift diving from Swanage.
Swanage Boat Charters: 2026 Prices - Reviewed 2026 charter prices and site-specific depth and slack-water notes.
Swanage Boat Charters: Drift and Reef Dives - Local descriptions of Old Harry, St Aldhelm's Head, Fleur de Lys, and other tidal dives.

Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Dorset Coast (Swanage, Weymouth and Portland)

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

43 sources • Updated Sep 4, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 4, 2026.

Swanage Pier Trust: Diving and Water Sports - Official pier access, sheltered dive-zone description, depth guidance, and current heritage diving charges.
Swanage Boat Charters - Local hardboat operator overview covering wreck, reef, scenic, and drift diving from Swanage.
Swanage Boat Charters: 2026 Prices - Reviewed 2026 charter prices and site-specific depth and slack-water notes.
Swanage Boat Charters: Drift and Reef Dives - Local descriptions of Old Harry, St Aldhelm's Head, Fleur de Lys, and other tidal dives.

Swanage Boat Charters: Reef Dives - Local depth, habitat, and marine-life information for Peveril Ledge and Tanville Ledges.

Swanage Boat Charters: Diver Information - Operator guidance on self-led buddy diving, weather decisions, surface marker buoys, and solo-diver expectations.

Divers Down Swanage - Current local dive-centre services, training, equipment, gas, and seasonal operating information at Swanage Pier.

Jurassic Aqua Sports: Dorset Dive Sites - Operator descriptions of Weymouth and Portland reefs, shallow wrecks, and advanced current-exposed sites.

Underwater Explorers: Dorset Dive Sites - Local descriptions of Portland shore entries, harbour wrecks, offshore wrecks, and conditions at Chesil Cove.

Old Harbour Dive Centre - Local season guidance, Portland Harbour training conditions, depth range, wreck coverage, and marine-life notes.

Dorset Wildlife Trust: Wild Seas Centre - Official Kimmeridge Bay snorkel-trail season, route length, safety advice, equipment hire, and Seashore Code guidance.

Kimmeridge Bay: Plan Your Visit - Current private-road access hours, vehicle charge, parking inclusion, and free pedestrian and cycle access.

National Trust: Outdoor Activities at Studland Bay - Official Studland seagrass, Voluntary No Anchoring Zone, and wildlife-conservation guidance.

Marine Management Organisation: Studland Bay Management - Government management measures for anchoring and other non-licensable activity in Studland Bay.

Marine Management Organisation: Chesil Beach and Stennis Ledges MCZ - Official designation and conservation context for the marine protected area around Chesil and Portland.

Portland Port: Diving - Harbour authority rules for guided and teaching dives, permits, and approved diving areas.

Receiver of Wreck: Report Wreck Material - Official legal requirement to report recovered wreck material within 28 days.

Royal Navy: Protection for Military Shipwrecks - Current explanation of protected places and controlled sites under military-wreck legislation.

Met Office: Swanage Climate Averages - Official long-term monthly climate averages for Swanage.

Cefas: Station 24 Weymouth Sea Temperature - Official long-term mean monthly sea temperatures for Weymouth.

Visit Dorset: Getting Here - Official tourism guidance on rail, road, ferry, airport, and local arrival options.

Visit Dorset: Getting Here by Air - Official overview of Bournemouth, Southampton, and London airport access to Dorset.

South Western Railway: London Waterloo to Weymouth - Current direct rail route and journey-planning information for Weymouth.

Morebus: Breezer 40 - Current bus route linking Poole, Wareham, Corfe Castle, and Swanage.

Morebus: Breezer 50 - Current bus route linking Bournemouth, Sandbanks, Studland, and Swanage.

First Bus Wessex: Timetables - Current timetable portal for Weymouth and Portland local services.

UK Government: Electronic Travel Authorisation - Official eligibility, fee, validity, and application guidance for the UK ETA.

UK Government: Check if You Need a UK Visa - Official nationality-specific visa and entry-document checker.

HM Coastguard: Sea Safety - Official guidance on weather, tides, cold water, buddy systems, visibility aids, and diving safety.

HM Coastguard - Official emergency contact guidance for coastal and at-sea incidents.

British Hyperbaric Association: Diving Emergency - National Diving Accident Helpline number and emergency response guidance for England and Wales.

British Hyperbaric Association: Hyperbaric Facilities - Current regional hyperbaric-facility listing, including the south-west emergency pathway.

British Sub-Aqua Club: Poole Hyperbaric Chamber Closure - Confirms permanent closure of the Poole chamber on 31 January 2025.

Dorset County Hospital: Emergency Department - Official 24-hour emergency-department information for Dorchester.

NHS: Poole Hospital Accident and Emergency - Current 24-hour accident and emergency listing for Poole Hospital.

Dorset HealthCare: Minor Injuries Units - Current opening information for Swanage Minor Injuries Unit and Weymouth Urgent Treatment Centre.

UK Government: Healthcare for EU and EFTA Visitors - Official visitor-healthcare guidance and the role of EHIC or equivalent cover.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Dorset and East Devon Coast - Official World Heritage description of the Jurassic Coast and its geological record.

Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve - Official information for trails, wildlife, visitor facilities, and the Swanage-area nature reserve.

National Trust: Corfe Castle - Official visitor information and heritage context for Corfe Castle.

Swanage Railway - Official heritage-rail information for the route between Swanage, Corfe Castle, and Norden.

Trinity House: Portland Bill Lighthouse - Official visitor information for Portland Bill Lighthouse.

Destination hero photo by Chris Meads - Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@cjmeads