The Menai Strait is easy to find. If you take the A55 westward from Chester it leads you directly to the Strait in about an hour. Pull off immediately after crossing the Britannia Bridge and take a right turn, leading you down to the town of Mnai Bridge. Take the second turn at the roundabout to the town centre, then right, then left (nearly a crossroad), and a slipway will be found a few hundred metres down the road. From here, dive boats can be launched.

The dive described here is in the 'Swellies' and isaccessed by following this road further round, under the suspension bridge, until a footpath leads to the Strait's shore. Unfortunately, parking is very limited so it may be necessary to park and walk to this point from further along the road. Walking down the footpath on to the muddy shore and over to the edge of the rocky outcrop somewhat to the right leads to the start of the dive. Underwater, head in the direction of the Swellies Rock (the one with the beacon on it) to find the mussels and reefs.

Slack water is best found at around two and a half hours before low tide on neaps in the area of the suspension bridge. Otherwise it is possible to do some exciting drifts! There are many other shore dives possible between the menai Bridge slipway and here, many equally spectacular. Boat cover is useful but not essential if care is taken. Power boats are not too prevalent here - submerged rocks keep many away. Sailing boats stay int he main channel and as it is narrow, may be unable to take avoiding action, so it is best to avoid surfacing in it.

WHERE TO EAT

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants and takeaways in Menai Bridge.

Jodies Wine Bar (Tel: 01248 714864) on the roundabout ont he Anglesey side of the suspension bridge has a pleasant informal atmosphere, is open all day, and has an excellent blackboard menu of typical bistro food; highly recommended, especially for its puddings.

On the other side of the bridge is the Antelope (Tel: 01248 362162), which has a more modern ambience and good (and plentiful helpings of) bar food at reasonable prices.

The Liverpool Arms Hotel (Tel: 01248 712453), just a few yards from the slipway, is a haunt of local divers and again provides a variety of pub food and 'Real Ale'. It dates back to 1843 and retains an old ferry inn atmosphere, with many really fascinating pictures on the walls.

A Chinese restaurant, the Jade Garden, is straight along the road from the suspension bridge on the Anglesey side, andd in Menai Bridge high street are a couple of fish and chip shops. Something for everyone.

WHERE TO STAY

With the magnificent backdrop of Snowdonia, this whole area is inevitably well geared-up for tourists and offers numberous places to stay. In Menai Bridge itself is the Victoria Hotel (Tel:01248 712309) where B&B starts from £24 a night. Bar meals are also available here.

The previously mentioned Liverpool Arms Hotel also offers B&B starting from £25, and the Anglesey Arms Hotel (Tel: 01248 712305) on the same roundabout as Jodies (it's nearly opposte) offers rates from £32.50.

The Tourist Information Centre in nearby Llanfairpwll covers the Menai Bridge area (Tel: 01248 713177) and operates the 'book ahead' (baba) scheme for B& B as well as offering further details and choices.

AIR

Air is not plentiful int he area. At Plas Menai to the west of Felinheli is a coin-operated air supply open during 'normal' hours. Otherwise, it's a 20 mile trek to Treaddur Bay to the Anglesey Diver Training college (Tel: 01407 860318