Ever stood on the beach looking out to sea and wondered what was out there? Well unbeknown to most, the Hampshire and Dorset coastline offers some of the best and most diverse dive sites in the country.

The sea around Swanage, which lies west of Poole, in the Isle of Purbeck, is touted as ideal scuba diving territory, whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver with dive sites like Swanage Pier, the Kyarra and the Fleur de Lys on its doorstep.

Only 20 minutes from Swanage Pier and three quarters of a mile off Anvil Point, the Kyarra was torpedoed in 1918 and now lies on the sea bed at a depth of 30 metres. This large wreck is 415 feet long and although destroyed, large sections of the wreck are intact.

Other dive sites are found further along the Dorset coast at Lulworth, Portland Chesil Beach and the wrecks of Portland. There is also a fresh water site not too far away so most diving activities can be achieved all year round.

Not to be outdone, the Solent also hosts a number of interesting dive sites and wrecks especially around the Isle of Wight. From Southampton or Cowes dive trips can be taken to the wreck of the War Knight which lies in 15mtrs close inshore near Freshwater Bay or the Margaret Smith, a 300 ton gravel dredger that sank in 1978, lies in 16 metres just off Yarmouth.