A fresh water wall dive in the Lake District.
Parking
Parking is in the small car park on the B5289, just under a mile to the north west of the village of Buttermere. (NY163 184 54.5537634,-3.2955686) It’s just by Hause Point and at the base of Rannerdale Knott. The nearest post code is CA13 9FG, but a sat nav is unlikely to take you to exactly the right place as it covers a wide area.
There are several parking areas around there, so if you’re not familiar with this site, we recommend studying the map/Google Street View before you set off, so you can be sure of getting the correct one.
The car park is free and is limited to about 10 vehicles, so aim to be early at weekends as it’s often busy.
Facilities
No facilities. You will need to be able to kit up out of your car or take a bench with you. Take food and hot drinks.
Mobile phone coverage is sketchy to non-existent. The nearest public phone is in Buttermere, approx 2km South East along B5289. The nearest hospital is Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle CA2 7HY. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral, CH61 1AU.
Dive Site Access
Turn left out of the car park and walk about 100m up the road to the end of the dry stone wall. Descend the little path down the grassy bank to a small shingle beach and the shore entry point.
Alternatively a giant stride entry is possible off a rocky ledge further down the road in the same direction.
Diver Proficiency
Suitable for all levels of qualified diver.
Special Kit or Equipment
A good torch and a back up are essential as it can be a very dark lake.
In the Water
As you enter the water, the shingle quickly turns into large pebbles which can be slippery. You need to walk about 5m out into the water to get about 1.5m depth. The depth quickly drops off then to around 5m. The bottom here is slit, so good buoyancy is essential to avoid kicking the silt up.
Keep the bank on your left and descend to your chosen depth. There is a bay, then a wall that runs for about 20 metres. Depth is around 22 metres though you can get down to 34 metres if you can find the way there.
Look out for perch, trout and eels.
Site Specific Hazards
Care should be taken walking down, and crossing the road from the car park. It can be busy during the holiday season and at weekends. The path down the grassy bank from the road to the entry point can be slippery and the rocks are uneven.
After entering the water from the shingle, the rocks submerged in shallow water as you wade out are slippery. Altitude of about 100m, but you’re likely to climb to 300m on the way home. Take this into consideration when planning your dives and travel.
No powered craft are permitted on Crummock Water, but it’s possible you could encounter swimmers, rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards.
Upcoming Events
- Crummock Water - 12/05/2024 - All Day