England, South West
The South West Coast of England provides some of the best diving in the British Isles. The water is warmer and underwater visibility is often better than more northerly locations. It is not unusual to see marine life not often seen in other parts of the United Kingdom.
There are a large number of natural harbours, both large and small, with many of these suitable for launching dive boats. Many others are home to commercial boats catering for divers together with a large number of locations suitable for shore diving. There are literally thousands of wreck sites at depths accessible to divers with many well known, but many more are not. There is almost unlimited opportunity to explore new sites and locations.
When to dive
June to August - the best time to visit the south coast. Often it is warm enough to dive in a wet suit and, although good weather is never guaranteed, it is much more likely at this time of year. Typical water temperature is 12 to 20°C.
September to November - water temperature decreases gradually throughout the autumn and the likelihood of having to cancel diving due to poor weather increases. Nevertheless, some excellent diving is possible during these months. Typical water temperature is 18°C (September) to 13°C (November).
December to February - although occasionally some excellent dives can be had during these months, this time of year is not recommended for the visiting diver. Weather and sea conditions are often such as to make safe diving impossible, underwater visibility is often poor and the sea is cold. Typical water temperature is 5 to 10°C.
March to May - weather conditions are unreliable during these months. Dive trips often have to be cancelled so it is essential to have alternative plans. For many UK divers the diving 'season' begins with the Easter holiday. Typical water temperature is 8 to 11°C.
Plankton blooms can occur in May or September and these reduce underwater visibility to nil and make safe diving impossible. However, thankfully these do not occur every year. There were no plankton blooms in 2002 or 2003 but in 2001 diving was stopped completely for three weeks during May.
The Isles of Scilly are situated 28 miles off Lands End and comprise over 100 small islands and rocks with only 5 inhabited. Being a 10-mile stretch positioned in the approaches to the English Channel it has claimed a tally of shipwrecks over the years. Thrusting up from the Atlantic, it provides a spectacular diving area not affected by debris from rivers. Both scenic and wreck dives can be found in one place with a rich abundance of Devon cup coral, sea fans, deadmans fingers and other sea life turning wrecks into artificial reefs.
Cornwall has an extensive coastline with a variety of harbours and inlets bounded on three sides by the sea. It has a temperate climate with very clear visibility, an underwater environment holding the mysteries of many wrecks and a varied topography which is crammed with marine life. At Lands End shipping routes divide, turning either north or south, and over the centuries many ships have met their final resting place along the coasts of Cornwall. Porthoustock, Kennack Sands and Mullion are a few of the more popular areas for diving. To enjoy the best of Cornwall diving should be undertaken by boat, as there are very few good sites accessible from the shoreline.
The diving off the Devon coastline is some of the most interesting and varied, from the challenges of deep wrecks and steep rocky pinnacles to scenic coves packed with life. South Devon is the softer side, being more sheltered and offering a great diversity with reasonable access from both shore and boat. With over 150 miles of coastline and numerous gullies running out from shore marine life comparable with the Mediterranean can be found.
Lundy is a small island found set in the entrance to the Bristol Channel with the surrounding water offering deep and relatively clear water filled with a superb variety of marine life. A considerable number of wrecks can be found here, including the battleship HMS Montaque, the Carmen and the Robert.
At Plymouth Sound the area enclosed by Penlee Point, the Breakwater and Shagstone offers some interesting dives with clear water, good marine life within the rocky areas and deep channels, despite the fact it is near a city. Reliable and varied diving can be found in the area between Rame Head and Hilsea Point where relatively shallow wrecks and reefs can be easily accessed. The offshore sites of Eddystone Rocks and Hands Deep are an experience not to be missed with spectacular scenery and marine life reflecting the deep water around them.
Bigbury Bay with its clear waters and variety of reefs suits all levels of experience with reliable diving on offer for much of the year. A favourite site is the wreck of the Persier and, although the wreck is well broken up, the bows stand impressively up to 17 metres from the seabed. One of the most stunning areas in the southwest is Bolt Tail to Start Point with diving all along the coast revealing shallow reefs, deep gullies and attractive coves set under some spectacular cliffs.
The area from Start Point to Berry Head offers a good variety, although not to the same standard as that further to the west, as visibility can be poor due to the proximity of the river Dart. The beaches of Hallsands, Beesands, Torcross and Blackpool Sands have reasonable places for launching and shore diving. The area around Berry Head is popular with divers, offering easy diving and south of the headland around Cod Rocks reveals some interesting reefs. The offshore islets of Thatcher Rock and the Ore Stone offer some good dives but the tides are strong.
The wide expanse of Lyme Bay is mainly a muddy and gravel seabed with some low lying reefs but the main attraction is the many wrecks offshore. The Dorset coast covers around 100 miles of coastline and besides Lyme Bay there is Chesil Beach, the Isle of Portland, the cliffs of Purbeck and Poole Bay. The worst winds for diving this area are southerly gales, however diving can still be found in Poole and Portland harbours.
The coastline around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is packed with dive sites and, having carried shipping for centuries, huge numbers lay on the seabed. Most areas teem with shellfish and the area is famous for its crabs. The waters teem with marine life and the underwater scenery can be dramatic.
Organisations and Guides
The Regional tourist board for the South West of England.
http://www.sw-watersports.com
Guide to over 1400 hotels, B&B’s, campsites, farms, cottages and apartments.
http://www.westcountrynow.com
The Cornwall Marine Network. A website containing information on the Cornish marine industry.
http://www.cornwallmarine.net
A countrywide database of slipways and launch sites. Not all the information is up to date. Many of the sites listed have a contact phone number and divers are advised to contact the harbour master or site owner when planning an expedition to a new location.
http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk
Additional Information
"Dive Dorset" by John & Vicki Hinchcliffe, published by Underwater World Publications Ltd. ISBN 0 946020 26 4
"Dive South Devon" by Kendall McDonald, published by Underwater World Publications Ltd. ISBN 0 946020 24 8
"Dive South Cornwall" by Richard Larn, published by Underwater World Publications Ltd. ISBN ISBN 0 946020 25 6
"Shipwreck Guide to Dorset and Lyme Bay" by Nigel Clarke, published by Nigel J Cllarke Publications, ISBN 0 907683 81 9
UK main page
UK DIVE GUIDES
Books and guides to help you plan, and to take with you - buy on-line.
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South East Devon
Swanage
Poole
Weymouth
Lyme Bay
Scilly Islands
Channel Isles
Vobster Quarry, Somerset
CORNWALL - Porthkerris Cove by Alan Ewart
CORNWALL - Lizard Peninsula by Richard Knights
CORNWALL - Flamin' June in Cornwall by Simon Green
CORNWALL - Marazion August 2000 by Harry Ryalls
CORNWALL - A Club Trip To Penzance by Andy Fulford
CORNWALL - Porthoustock - Four Go Mad in Cornwall by Helen Dainton
DEVON - Exmouth on Wave Chieftain III by Katherine Hutt
DEVON - Plymouth by Matt Mindham
DEVON - Wreck Diving Out Of Plymouth by by Steve Jones
DEVON - James Egan Lane Vs. HMS Scylla by Bill Quinn
DEVON - Plymouth Wrecks by Andrew Martin
DEVON - Plymouth on Freedom by David Beading & Mark Kendall
DEVON - Bournemouth Barracudas Dive Plymouth by Kathy Willcocks
DEVON - BSAC 1018 Dive Plymouth, April 2007 by Dave Simpson
DEVON - Hallsands by Harry Ryalls
DEVON - Babbacombe Bay by Carol Baker
DEVON - Shore Diving Babbacombe Bay by Charles Stirling
DEVON - Salcombe by Derek Wright
DEVON - Diving The Soudan, Salcombe by Totnes SAC
DEVON - James Egan Lane Vs. HMS Scylla – A Trip into darkness by Bill Quinn
DEVON - Diving the Bretagne by Stewart Butterfield
DEVON - Wreck Diving From Teignmouth by Steve Jones
DORSET - Chesil Beach – Shore dives are easy? by Bill Quinn
DORSET - Chesil Cove by Graham Bowers
DORSET - Lyme Regis by John Rapley
DORSET - Lyme Regis by Juliet Ansell
DORSET - Lyme Regis - A Birthday Treat by Harry Ryalls
DORSET - Lyme Regis Wreks by Steve Chaplin
DORSET - Kyarra Wreck, Swanage by Paul Morris
DORSET - Diving the Kyarra from Swanage by Jo-Anne Eaton
DORSET - Club Diving in Swanage by Sheilah Openshaw
DORSET - Diving the Betsy Ann and Fleur de Lysby by Peter Loizides
DORSET - Weymouth by Stella Harrison
DORSET - Out of Weymouth With Woody by Steve Jones
DORSET - Diving Tango Out of Weymouth by Derek Wright
DORSET - BedSAC Trip to Weymouth by Arnold Talats
DORSET - Winter Diving on Scimitar, Weymouthby Alan Ewart
DORSET - Black Hawk Weekend by Derek Wright
DORSET - Diving From Kyaratoo, Weymouth by Steve Jones
DORSET - Diving from Divetime, Weymouth by Jamie Bassett
DORSET - Diving From Beowulf, Poole by Steve Jones
DORSET - Diving Poole with Bite! by Graham Bowers
DORSET - Diving the Kyarra from Sha Kingby Alan Ewart
DORSET - Diving the Ajax from Beowulfby Alan Ewart
DORSET - Diving The Betsey Ann on Beowulf! by Kathy Moore
DORSET - Bowleaze Reef, Portland Bill Quinn
DORSET - Winter Ice Breaker, Portland by Paul Oliver
HAMPSHIRE - SETT - Something For the Weekend? by Jules Kelley
HAMPSHIRE - SETT visitby Stefan Montgomery
SW - Lundy by Richard Holden
SW - Lundy by Richard Knights
SW - Lundy by Peter Harvey
SW - Marlin SAC Visit Lundy by Graham Bowers
SW - Poole Dam Divers Visit Lundy by Kathy Moore
SW - Scilly Isles by David Beadley & Andreas Wilk
SW - St Mary's, Scilly Isles by Nick Parsons
SW - St Mary's, Scilly Isles by Richard Booth
SW - Scilly Isles on Moonshadow by Alan Ewart
SW - Poole Dam Divers Dive The Scillies by Kathy Moore
SW - St Martins, Scilly Isles by Derek Wright
SOMERSET(Inland) - Vobster Quay by Frederik Hjelset
SOMERSET(Inland) - Vobster Quay by Chris Moody
GLOUCESTERSHIRE(Inland) - National Dive Centre, Chepstow by Clive Bowen
GLOUCESTERSHIRE(Inland) - National Dive Centre: A Change of Opinion by Bill Quinn
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