An Aerial photo of Stoney
The history of Stoney Cove.
Stoney cove has only been open for diving in recent years.
Granite was quarried from Stoney Stanton for road building or
paving streets. A railway line ran from Stoney Stanton in around 1850,
horses and steam driven vehicles were used at the quarry. School children
used to ride the horses after school. Pumps were used to remove spring water
and this was used at the local village. Quarrying ceased in 1958 and the pumps
switched off. This resulted in the quarry flooding, within 5 years
the quarry was being used for diving and other water sports. If you chat
to 'Dave' in the shop he will tell you all about the quarry as he was born
and brought up in the area. With the expansion of North sea oil in
the 60s and 70s, underwater equipment was tested at the quarry. In 1978 a
company called Stoney Cove Marine Trials was formed to promote scuba diving
activities. A drainage system was put in place which helps to remove rain
water from the cliffs and banks away from Stoney cove which has improved the
underwater visibility. Stoney is home to the largest inland wreck named Stanegarth,
and the development of the site continues with a new complex near the entrance.
Stoney Cove during excavation
Diving
The cove is split up into three principle depths these being novice
(7m shelf) , intermediate (20m shelf) and advanced (up to 36m) offering
an ideal training ground for new and experienced scuba divers. The novice
area hosts two main attractions; a Viscount aircraft cockpit and a replica
of Captain Nemos Nautilus submarine. The intermediate area is home to a Wessex
helicopter, an old coach, a light aircraft and the Stanegarth, a large 1910
steam powered tug. The advanced area has a Hydrobox and offers deep diving
to suitably trained and experienced divers.
The bottom composition is mainly granite and sand which gives average visibility of 10m. At weekends the visibility tends to drop as hundreds of divers train or pleasure dive. You will need to be there before 7am to get a parking space near the water at weekends with Sunday being the worst. Mid-week is far better with Thursday and Friday my favourite days.
The Stoney book says that the Cove has "crayfish, carp, perch, roach, with the size of the pike being the subject of many a fishy tale." (allowing for the 25% magnification factor under water of course). I have also seen huge Common and Mirror carp. The lake has never been fished and so they have very little fear of you and will follow you around grubbing around behind you if you kick up the bottom.
On site there is a fully stocked shop, pub, restaurant, toilets, showers and even a recompression chamber.
Overall the site offers a whole range of diving opportunities and
offers excellent training and recreational
fun diving for a wide range of skill levels.
Directions
Get onto the M25 at your favourite Junction and travel towards Heathrow airport (anticlockwise from Essex). Stay on the M25 until you get to Junction 21, which is signposted M1 North. Follow the signs onto the M1 and head North. If you are meeting us at Watford Gap services they are about 7 miles North of Junction 16. From Watford Gap services head North passing the M6 at Junction 19. When you get to junction 20 this is signposted Lutterworth. At the roundabout at the top of the sliproad take the 1st Left. About 200 yards further at the next roundabout turn Right and head into Lutterworth town centre. Go through Lutterworth and after 3.5 miles you will come to a small petrol station on your right hand side. About 200 yards past the petrol station, at the traffic lights, take the next Left towards Broughton Astley on B581. Follow this road until it ends at a 'T' Junction and set of traffic lights (about 4 miles). At the traffic lights turn Left and 100 yards along this road take the 1st Right. After 1 mile you come to a small village called Stoney Stanton. As you go through the 30MPH signs the first left 100 yards further is a road called South Drive. Turn Left into this road and drive to the 'T' Junction at the end (about 200 yards). Turn Left and go about 100 yards. The road climbs a small hill on a right hand bend. The entrance to Stoney Cove is on your Left-hand side.
As you go down the new road Stoney Cove staff in yellow fluorescent jackets will meet you. They will take your £6 entry fee. The staff will also scan your 'Diverlog' card into their machine, so please have it ready for them. If you do not have a 'Diverlog' card you will have to fill in a 1-day temporary card (cost £4), or buy a 'Diverlog' card (£7.50 for 6 months or £15 for 2 years). For your 'Diverlog' card you will need to fill in a form and hand it in at the shop along with 1 passport sized photograph. They will post your card along with a booklet containing interesting facts about Stoney Cove. Application forms are available from Stoney Cove or we have a small stock of them.
If you are on your PADI Open Water course then keep your receipts and we will refund your entry and day registration fee.
At weekends the queue for tea, coffee and rolls can be quite long,
so we recommend that you bring some sandwiches and a flask.
Kiting up on the 'bus stop'
Caroline by the ladder
