AT LAST - a handy inland facility for divers who live and work south of the Watford Gap. The Horsea Island Dive Centre at Port Solent in Portsmouth is a real gem of a site.

The centre offers a 1000m long seawater lake, previously used exclusively by the Defence Diving School for Army and Navy training. Now, the facility is shared by sports divers and the armed forces.

Andark Diving in Southampton helped set up the centre but Andark's Chris Davey stresses: "This is an independent facility for everyone's use, not a club and not part of the Defence Diving School."

The lake is divided into 3 zones, each with two training platforms at 6m depth. A number of underwater attractions have been dotted about the lake bed, including armoured personnel carriers, helicopters, aircraft fuselages, a recompression chamber, and 30m of tunnels for divers wanting to practise wreck-penetration skills.

The lake has a maximum depth of 9m and has been geared towards providing safe training and recreational diving with year-round access for all levels of diver.

Land facilities include large changing areas, easy parking close to the water, a canteen, and enough grassy terrain to satisfy anyone thinking of having a barbecue. Training groups can take advantage of "wet" classrooms for theory lessons and a 5m deep training tank."It's the kind of place divers will want to come and spend the day, rather than dropping in for a quick dive," says Chris.

The centre encourages pre-booking. Solo diving is not allowed but guided dives are available. All staff are fully qualified guides or instructors, but be aware that there is no shop and supplies of spare kit are limited.

CONTACT HORSEA ISLAND BOOKING OFFICE

256, Bridge Road, Lower Swanwick, Southampton, Hampshire. SO31 7FL

Tel: 01489 480 480

Navy divers sink a decommissioned Land Rover into the lake for sports diving

         Sports divers emerge from the lake after a trippo