Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Andark Lake
AO Edited

Andark Lake

One of the country's largest diving schools set in a picturesque nature reserve.

Swanwick, England

Added By
Will
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A helicopter takes off from Andark Lake   willfaulkner / Atlas Obscura User
A birdeye view of divers swimming up to the 1 metre platform   willfaulkner / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Andark was originally formed in 1976 as a commercial diving business in Southampton, England.  Andark divers would work on everything from surveying ship hulls to underwater construction. In 1980, the company diversified and started a scuba diver training program.

In 2011, the business expanded yet again. On the high ground behind Andark, a small yet deep lake was constructed. This bowl-shaped lake, 40m x 60m, known as Andark Lake, became one of Europe's first purpose-built scuba diving lakes. Today, Andark Lake is still one of England's biggest leisure diving schools.

Today, the area surrounding the lake is a nature reserve. Andark Lake employees work to make sure the lake doesn't have a negative impact on local wildlife, even ensuring the water is filtered naturally through reeds and weeds. The lake is also used for open water swimming (including ice swimming in the winter), camping, and the very rare helicopter landing spot.

The lake hosts a small shop and cafe, it is a nice tranquil spot to relax and enjoy a sunny day. The shop keeps a file about what wildlife can be seen at the lake, which nature enthusiasts can request to see.

Related Tags

Nature Preserves Construction Water Lakes Diving

Know Before You Go

The main car park is at the bottom of the 300m track leading up to the lake. Next to the lake is parking for the campsite and blue badge holders. 

Community Contributors

Added By

willfaulkner

Edited By

jooniur

  • jooniur

Published

August 11, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Andark Lake
256 Bridge Road
Lower Swanwick
Swanwick, England, SO31 7FL
United Kingdom
50.880091, -1.291007
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Hamble-Warsash Pink Ferry

Hamble-le-Rice, England

miles away

Calshot Lightship

Southampton, England

miles away

Canute Chambers Plaque

Southampton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,233
Stories 145

Nearby Places

The Hamble-Warsash Pink Ferry

Hamble-le-Rice, England

miles away

Calshot Lightship

Southampton, England

miles away

Canute Chambers Plaque

Southampton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,233
Stories 145

Related Places

  • Lake Eacham

    Lake Eacham, Australia

    Lake Eacham

    A pristine crater lake 12,000 years in the making, with waters like cut glass.

  • Lake Posta Fibreno

    Carpello, Italy

    Lake Posta Fibreno

    This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

  • The Cribs in winter.

    Duluth, Minnesota

    Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum

    The watery grave of an impractical idea.

  • This scenic park on the shores of Lake Ontario is open 24/7.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Sundial Folly

    An enigmatic concrete structure in a lakeside Toronto park raises more questions than answers.

    Sponsored by Destination Toronto
  • A tiny remnant of the “vegas” for which Las Vegas was named.  The Boy Scout chimney is in the background.

    Las Vegas, Nevada

    Springs Preserve

    The birthplace of Las Vegas is now preserved as a historic and natural area.

  • A turquoise Lago Coatepeque.

    El Salvador

    Lago Coatepeque

    This color-changing crater lake in El Salvador is occasionally impenetrable to sunlight.

  • Lake Chelan above Stehekin (on shore to left).

    Washington

    Lake Chelan

    A narrow fjord-like lake, the third-deepest in the United States, runs for over 50 miles into the Cascades of Washington state.

  • An aerial view of the pink waters of Lake Atanasovsko.

    Nessebar, Bulgaria

    Lake Atanasovsko

    One of the world’s only pink lakes where it's possible to take a dip.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.