Why Big Squid Uses Wraysbury for Training

Inland dive lakes are an essential part of learning to dive in the UK. They offer controlled but genuinely challenging conditions that build real confidence. Wraysbury ticks every box: it’s accessible, well equipped, and deep enough to complete full Open Water diver training to training agency standards.

The lake reaches a maximum depth of 14 metres, with dedicated training platforms positioned at 6 metres in the open water area. The lake bed is clay with gently sloping, vegetation-lined banks. Resident wildlife includes carp, pike, tench, perch, eels and crayfish, so there’s always something to spot beyond the training drills.

Visibility and water temperature vary by season. Colder months typically offer the clearest conditions. The lake is diveable year-round. It’s not always easy,  but that’s the point. Challenging UK conditions help make an easy transition to warm, clear water overseas.

What’s on the Lake Bed

Wraysbury has built up one of the most impressive collections of sunken features of any dive lake in the UK. It’s genuinely more like an underwater treasure hunt than a training session. Across the 15-acre lake, you’ll find:

• A Boeing 737 fuselage, complete with cockpit and cargo hold, to explore.
• A diving bell, as seen in the film Pressure
• Half a New York taxi, as used in Die Hard
• A VW campervan
• A double-decker bus
• A dragon boat, suspended in the water column
• A milk float
• 28 boats of various sizes
• Additional cars, road signs and other submerged curiosities
• A practice cave system with entrances at different depths,  excellent for buoyancy work.

It’s a lot to get through, which is exactly why so many divers keep coming back.

Prices & Facilities

• Entry: £15 per day (cash)
• On site: Compressor, changing rooms, toilets, café meals, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks)

Getting to Wraysbury Dive Centre

By car from Junction 13 of the M25 (Staines/Wraysbury): Follow signs for the B376 into Wraysbury village. Pass the Perseverance pub on your left, continue for 500 metres and turn left into Douglas Lane. The entrance is 50 metres further on the left. If you reach the station, you’ve gone slightly too far.

By car from Junction 14 of the M25 (Heathrow Terminal 4/Poyle): Follow signs for Poyle and go straight over the roundabout with the reservoir on your left. About 1 kilometre after the roundabout, turn left into Coppermill Road. Cross the railway bridge — the dive centre is on your right, 100 metres past it.

By train: Trains run to Wraysbury from London Waterloo and Vauxhall. Always check current timetables before travelling as schedules are subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wraysbury Dive Centre suitable for beginner divers? Yes. Wraysbury is one of the best dive lakes near London for beginner training. The dedicated shallow water platforms at 6 metres make it ideal for practising PADI Open Water skills, and Big Squid instructors run regular training days at the site throughout the year.

How deep is Wraysbury Dive Centre lake? The lake has a maximum depth of 16 metres, which is sufficient to complete full Open Water Diver certification.

How far is Wraysbury from London? Wraysbury is approximately 45 minutes from central London by car, just off the M25 near Windsor. It’s also reachable by train from London Waterloo and Vauxhall, with Wraysbury station a short walk from the dive centre.

What is the visibility like at Wraysbury? Visibility varies depending on the time of year, water temperature and the number of divers in the water. Conditions are generally clearest during the colder months. While it’s not always crystal clear, this is part of what makes it excellent training — UK lake diving prepares you well for open sea and overseas diving.

What are the entry fees at Wraysbury Dive Centre? Entry to the site costs £15 per day. The café on site sells hot meals, sandwiches and drinks, and there is a compressor available for tank fills.

Does Wraysbury have sunken wrecks or features to explore? Yes, the lake bed has a range of deliberately sunken objects including a Boeing 737 fuselage, a diving bell, half a New York taxi, 28 boats of various sizes, a practice cave system with entrances at different depths

Can I dive at Wraysbury without an instructor? Qualified divers can dive independently at Wraysbury, subject to the site’s own entry requirements. Big Squid also runs guided and training dives at the venue. Get in touch if you’d like to join one of our sessions. They are listed below