Reservoirs, flooded villages?

[SteW]

I was reading that Derwent reservior was made by flooding a village, and that the buildings were still at the bottom.
I've asked around, and it appears that the buidling are all but gone, it's not a very good dive, and permission to dive there isn't likely.

So, I was wondering if anyone knew of any other similar reserviors, whether diving is allowed, and if it's a good dive?

Cheers.

[MarkM]

We have a few rumoured to be like that in Cornwall, truth is most were knocked down and the materials reclaimed.

I am still waiting to hear from friends in Stithians, about their reservoir.

[jknights]

I believe that Rutland water has intact buildings but I dont know whether this si true or not.
Permissions to dive might be difficult as I dont know loacation and the reservoir is a large watersports area so you are competing with sailing, windsurfs, etc., for access.

[Ben Panter]

Vivian Quarry in Llanberis used to have some buildings in the bottom of it, but they were pretty unstable the last time I dived there (in the 90's) and may have gone by now...

Nice dive though - water can be gin clear.

Ben

[Paul Beal]

Haweswater in the lakes has some remains of buildings and a stone bridge in it still. It is a fair swim to get there is quite a big slope to go down to get from the road to the water. We dived it a few decembers ago in 0.5m viz (amber) and rather cold. Might be more plesent in the summer! You need a permit to dive it - i can't remember where from though.

Paul

[Steve Pearson]

If you go towards the bottom end of the reservoir towards the small car parking area, there's a gate with a footpath down to the water.

It's quite a swim towards where the village was, and you'll see dry stone walls and the remains of the walls of the cottages as well as the bridge. There's also a small island which is the direction you're heading for.

As for permission, just dive it. we did, and nobody questioned us, especially as you're under water most of the time. Did I mention it's quite a swim....haha take plenty of gas. We took scuba scooters and spent ages looking around until the batteries unexpectedly ran out and we had to swim back pushing them.... derr. Like I said, quite a swim.

It's nothing special, but makes a change from the quarry training dives.

There is another one I saw whilst out on a mountain bike ride in a reservoir along the west pennie route near haslingdon/rawtenstall/burnley area. Can't remember exactly but though at the time that it would be good to take some kit and dive it.

If you look at Paul Renucci's excellent website ww.freshwaterdiver.com you can find out more information on it.

Steve

[gordon mackie]

Wastwater is nice..but this one in Italy is nicer

città di l'aquila

[LindaN]

You didn't specify if it's only places in the UK you'r intressted in so if other countries is of interest there is a flooded power plant station (bad viz but shouldn't be any problems if your used to England *smile*) on the eastcost in nothern Sweden and a flooded little village (good viz) in Norway.

[AidanS]

Just a cautionary note on diving in reservoirs quite often people are not allowed to dive in them for safety. Often reservoirs have built in hydro electric plants and in order to gain the most amount of energy form the cascading water the water is taken from the bottom of the water body, this as a result can mean strong currents at bottoms of what appear still lakes. Secondly large reservoirs have substantial thermo clines with kielder water apparently having a temperature change during the summer of an average temperature surface temp of in the 20’s while below a water temperature of around 2 deg.

I was quite keen to go diving at kielder water as there is a substantial submerged village there however these were some of the reasons I was given against diving there!

Aidan

[Andy Wade]

Just a cautionary note on diving in reservoirs quite often people are not allowed to dive in them for safety. Often reservoirs have built in hydro electric plants and in order to gain the most amount of energy form the cascading water the water is taken from the bottom of the water body, this as a result can mean strong currents at bottoms of what appear still lakes. Secondly large reservoirs have substantial thermo clines with kielder water apparently having a temperature change during the summer of an average temperature surface temp of in the 20’s while below a water temperature of around 2 deg.

I was quite keen to go diving at kielder water as there is a substantial submerged village there however these were some of the reasons I was given against diving there!

Aidan

Yes but they did demolish said village anyway. I saw the pictures at their visitor centre donkeys years ago. I was thinking along the same lines as you.
So you can rest easy as you're not missing anything. :D

[Ben Panter]

Hi Aidan,

In *all* large lakes the lower layers remain at 4C all year round. If the water gets colder it becomes less dense and floats to the surface.

cheers,

Ben