Divers may think that Stoney Cove has been open for ever, but it was not until relatively recently that it began to be used for diving. In fact, in the village of Stoney Stanton nearby, the area is still known by its original names of Lanes Hill and Top Pit.

Stone quarrying began in Stoney Stanton at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Granite from local quarries was used to repair roads. The stone was either crushed or made into setts — small cubes of granite used to pave streets, especially those with tramlines.

Around 1850, a railway line was built to move granite out of Top Pit. The railway line ran through a tunnel and surfaced near St Michael's Church in the centre of Stoney Stanton. At this time, a rail track linked the village with the busy Birmingham to Leicester line. Other forms of transport were also used at the quarry — horses and steam-driven lorries were a familiar sight. Several villagers still living in Stoney Stanton describe running to Top Pit after school and persuading the quarrymen to let them ride the horses back up the quarry to the stables.

During the quarry's working life, the spring water was a constant problem. Pumps were used to prevent the quarry from flooding. The land adjacent to Stoney Cove's southern boundary is known as Spring Gardens and the water that was pumped from the quarry supplied the taps of Stoney Stanton and Sapcote.

Top Pit continued to provide granite for road-building until 1958, when all quarrying ceased, water pumping stopped and the spring water was finally allowed to flood the quarry workings. Barely five years later, the flooded quarry had already become popular with local pioneers of diving and waterskiing.

The discovery of North Sea oil was important to the development of Stoney Cove. During the 1960s and 1970s, the flooded quarry was used to train commercial divers en route for the North Sea. The facility was also used for developing and testing underwater equipment destined for use in the oil fields.

In 1978, Stoney Cove Marine Trials Ltd was formed to develop the full potential of Stoney Cove for scuba diving and commercial underwater activities. Since then there has been a continuous programme of improvements which began with a tarmac surface for the waterside parking area. A shower facility and that most important item, a pub, followed soon after. But the owners of Stoney Cove never like to rest on their laurels. Who knows what will come next? As they say, watch this space!