SOUTH EAST DEVON
Rolling countryside, historic cities and market towns, breathtaking coastlines with sandstone cliffs, white pebble beaches, golden sands and sheltered bays. Popular resorts, quaint fishing villages and a spectacular coastal path complete the picture.
Devon is the third largest and one of the most diverse of all the English counties. There are many deep inlets including the one formed by the mouth of the river exe at Exmouth. Exmouth is famous for it's two miles of golden sandy beach, a rarity in this area of pebbly beaches. Fascinating rock pools, and safe sands make the beaches here a paradise for children and adults alike.
The two-mile promenade is blessed with wonderful views and old favourites such as swing boats, crazy golf and sometimes even a punch and Judy show can still be seen. Beach side pubs, cafes and restaurants tempt the visitor to while away a peaceful hour watching the world go by. The coast line here is part of the Jurassic Coast, a world heritage site and wonderful walks along the cliff tops are never far away.
Exmouth offers a wide range of activities for diver and non-diver alike. The Pavilion offers live shows music and dancing. A walk along the esplanade offers visits to the docks and harbour as well as the beauty spot at Orcombe point. Other attractions include Sea and River boat trips, Fishing trips, Beach Gardens, Children's Rides, Fun Land and Miniature Railway, Crazy Golf and Putting Green. Waterfront Sports offers windsurfing, and the Exmouth's R.N.L.I. Inshore Lifeboat Station with its Lifeboat Display is well worth a visit.
The Diving
Most diving in Devon is done from boats. Some boat diving sites are well offshore and the use of a hard boat, rather than the club rib is recommended. The area around Exmouth faces mainly east, so the area is protected from the prevailing Westerly winds. The real bonus to the area is that if diving is not possible in one area a short drive is likely to take you to a more sheltered area where diving is possible. The down side is that the area around Lyme Bay is quite silty. Careless fins can easily disturb the very fine silt and visibility can be reduced to zero. After a period of settled weather and with a little care from divers visibility of 15 - 20 meters can be found in summer. This area is rich in unsalvaged wrecks. Many casualties of this centuries wars lie virtually untouched since their sinking. Some are in deep water but many are accessible to the average club diver.
Divers are warned that white phosphorous is frequently found on world war one vintage wrecks! In recent years a number of divers have been burned by raising this dangerous substance to the surface where it can spontaneously ignite when exposed to air.
The Bretagne (50 29 27N: 03 22 37W)
This schooner rigged single screw steamer sank after a collision with a French steamer in August 1918. She was 232 feet long and had a 35ft beam. She sits in an upright position with her deck at 18 M. The seabed is at 25M, making this a dive suitable for all grades of diver, especially as she can be dived at most states of the tide. The wreck is owned by Bristol Aerospace BSAC. Penetration of the wreck is possible but care must be taken, as the inside is very silty.
Lord Stewart (50 29 35N; 03 16 55W)
This 248 ft merchantman was on her way from Cherbourg to Barry, in September 1916, when she was sunk by a torpedo from UB-104. She lies at 32 M and stands 9M proud from the seabed.
Warning: Phosphorous has been found on this wreck.
HMS Empress Of India (50 29 43N; 02 57 53 W)
This 16,000-ton Royal Sovereign class battleship is over 380ft long and has a beam of 75ft. Her armour is up to 17" thick in places. She was sunk after being used as gunnery target in 1913. She lies upside down with her keel at 30 M and the seabed at 44 M (48 in the scour). There are a number of convenient access points to this ship but a badly placed shot can mean a long fin over a seemingly endless solid hull. The ship is a haven for wild life and huge schools of Pollock can be seen. This wreck is frequently dived by groups from both the Devon & Dorset parts of Lyme bay.
Salsette (50 29.66N; 02 43.02W
This huge wreck is without doubt one of the most exciting on the south coast. She is over 440ft long with a beam of 53ft. Her decks are at about 32M but with depths of up to 48M this is an advanced dive. It is very easy to get a lot deeper than intended.
The Perrone (50 28 14N; 03 22 47W)
This 3342-ton French cable layer was sunk by a u -boat in 1917. The 320ft wreck is now well broken up. There used to be a gun on the stern but this has now gone.
The wreckage is home to large schools of bib and some very large Pollack. Visibility can be poor making the wreckage difficult to navigate.
Watcombe Head Caves
Lying just to the north of Watcombe head at a depth of 15M these caves can make a fascinating dive. They have been described as 'big enough to drive a double Decker bus into. These caves are believed to have been inhabited at one time. Divers should look out for Flint tools and implements.
Babbacombe reef
This rocky reef falls away to a Sandy bottom at about10M. It is an ideal training site, but the proliferation of wildlife makes the site of interest to photographers. Wrasse, Ghost pipefish, flounder and John Dory can all be seen. Babbacombe is famous for it's large cuttlefish
Details of many more South Devon sites can be found in Kendall McDonald's book 'Dive South Devon' Underwater world publications. ISBN 0-946020-24-8.
Weather and Tides
Currents in Lyme bay are not particularly strong and the best time to dive is between 5 & 6 hours after high water at Devonport.
Tidal predictions for the area are available at:
http://www.ybw.com/weather/home.html
The coastline of Lyme Bay mainly faces South, a strong blow from the Southern half can bring quite a swell to shore sites and can have a seriously detrimental effect on visibility which in settled periods often exceeds 10 metres with offshore sites being even better. This area however gets some protection from the prevailing westerly winds.
The inshore forecast can be viewed at
http://www.met-office.gov.uk/datafiles/inshore.html
Admiralty Charts
Chart 3315 - Berry Head to Portland Bill
Chart 26 - Teignmouth and Tor Bay
Dive Shops, Gas and Charter boats
Air Nitrox and Mixed gases can be obtained from the following operators.
Teign Diving Centre, Quay Road, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 8ER: Tel 01626 773965
Offers air to 300 bar as well as Nitrox & Trimix. The centre also runs a charter boat at reasonable cost. www.teigndivingcentre.co.uk
Jurassic Coast Diving, 5 The Pierhead, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1DU: Tel 01395 268090 offers air and Nitrox. This centre also runs a charter bat and acts as an agent for another boat. www.jcdiving.co.uk
Divers Down, 139 Babbacombe Road, Babbacombe, Devon, TQ1 3SR: Tel 01803 327111 Offers air and Nitrox to 300 Bar. The Centre also operates a charter boat.
www.diversdown.co.uk
Riviera Diving and Watersports, Meadfoot Beach, Meadfoot Sea Road, Torquay:
Tel 01803-214966 offers air to 300 Bar. www.riviera54.freeserve.co.uk
Dive Devon Operate an 11M Redbay, stormforce super rib and will pick up from a variety of locations on request. The skipper will advise on where gas requirements can be met or will arrange a fill & return service. Tel: 07796 545796 or 07802 760625. www.divedevon.com
Launch Sites
Mamhead Slip, Exmouth, this council owned Slipway is at Exmouth next to the old docks now Exmouth Quay right on the seafront at the mouth of the river Exe.
Recreation Ground, Exmouth, Just 400 yards from Exmouth Railway station. Pass the rugby club and left down to the recreation ground keeping the sea to your right.
Exmouth Marina Ltd, The Docks, Pierhead, EX8 1DU
Axe Yacht Club Seaton. Launching can be tricky and is only possible around high water.
Beer Beach, offers easy launching for small boats at all states of the tide.
Polly Steps, Teignmouth. Great launch site. Will take craft up to 8m but cannot be used at low water springs
Further launch sites are available in the Torquay and Brixham areas.
BSAC Branches
Exeter BSAC may be able to assist with air or Nitrox by arrangement, guest divers welcome by arrangement. They can be contacted via their website at www.exeterbsac.org
Viking Divers BSAC 1933 welcome visiting divers and be contacted via their website at http://vikingdivers.org.uk/
Brixham BSAC 1939 www.brixham-bsac.co.uk
Accommodation
Being a tourist area South Devon is blessed with a range of holiday accommodation to suit all budgets. Details are easily available from the sites listed below.
Devon area www.devonlink.co.uk/stayselect/devon
Teignmouth area www.teignmouth-town.co.uk
Exmouth area www.exmouth-guide.co.uk
Torquay area www.torquay.com
Tourist Information
Further information on accommodation and things to do in this area can be found at the South Devon Tourist information site
www.southdevon.org.uk
How to get here
Road access to this part of the West Country has improved considerably in recent years. Roads have been improved and widened in many areas between Poole and Lyme Regis. Dorchester & Bridport have been bypassed, but this can still be quite a difficult drive on single carriage roads, especially if you are towing the club rib! The section of road from Bridport to Lyme Regis on the A35 is particularly challenging.
From London and the East follow the M3, M27, A31 & A35 to Bridport, Lyme Regis and Honiton. At Honiton join the A30 dual carriageway to Exeter.
From the North or West easiest access is Via the M5 to Exeter.
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Start Point Lighthouse
South Devon coastline
Dartmouth
Torquay Harbour
Teignmouth
Babbacombe Beach
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