BRIEF SUMMARY'S OF DIVE SITES
These Summarys are given in order of location. (Reading from right to left on the map above)
The first site is the most Easterly (Haven Cliff) and the last one is the most Westerly (The Walls, Plymouth).
Haven Cliff (Finger and Thumb) - Seaton
Rocks to the East of the River Axe. Deep Fissures run away from the shore. Good for crabs and lobsters. Flatfish found in the silty bottom. Pretty location.
Esplanade Reefs - Seaton
Several reefs with lots of life. Reefs run parallel to the beach about 150m from shore. Beware of heavy boat traffic
Beer Head - Beer
A small but very busy fishing boat spot. Dangerous amounts of boat traffic from Easter to the Autumn so the site is best avoided.
Branscombe Beach - Branscombe
Several low "Seaweed reefs" run parallel to the beach starting at about 50m from shore. The further out (upto 500m) the bigger the reefs. Long surface swims are the order of the day! The beach in is in a very pretty location and facilities are good
Sidmouth Reefs – Sidmouth
As you look out to sea Sidmouth reef is at the left hand end of the Esplanade It is a small area just off the beach by the roundabout. Nothing of real interest - only worth diving for the practice or if you are staying in Sidmouth. (Better sites nearby!)
Chit Rocks – Sidmouth
As you look out to sea Chit Rocks are the large rocks at the right hand end of Sidmouth Esplanade nothing of real interest here - only worth diving for the practice or if you are staying in Sidmouth. (Better sites nearby!)
Ladram Bay – Ladram Bay
A pretty pebble beach backing onto sheer sandstone cliffs and flanked (Just out to sea) by huge sandstone stacks. The stones change to sand and mud as you head out to sea. The reefs head out to sea from the shore. Plenty of fish life, & scallops can be found on the silt. An unusual site with good facilities on the campsite. Due to silt only worth diving after a few days of calm conditions
Budleigh Beach – East end Carpark - Budleigh Salterton
Dive 1 A dull featureless dive over the sandy bottom near the shore (Good for training dives)
Dive 2 A long swim to the reef. The reef is a great dive with lots of life including shoals of fish, edible crabs, lobsters, place & cuttlefish
Good location with easy parking and excellent facilities. The pebble beach is steep though, and longshore currents are occasionally strong. It is possible to miss the reef and swim a long way out looking for it!
Otter Cove - Budleigh Salterton
No longer accessible from land due to a landslip
Sandy Bay – Exmouth
Lovely site with good access and great facilities available at the holiday camp - A small wreck on the left hand side of the beach - A long walk but a nice reef at the right hand end of the beach
Exmouth Pier or the slipway - Exmouth
A jump in off the high "pier wall" or a short surface swim from the slipway. Must be done at slack high tide and with SMB to warn boat traffic. A good dive if the visibility is OK. Worth getting a local orientation from Jurassic Coast Divers as there is the wreckage of a car and a large overhang (like a big cave) both of which are worth finding. Excellent facilities nearby.
Smugglers Cove – Dawlish
A spectacular beach away from the beaten track. Worth the effort required to get to the site.
Babbacombe Beach - Torquay
Very pretty site, Sheltered and shallow, easy access to the water, fantastic facilities! Lots of life including crustaceans & cuttlefish.
Ansteys Cove – Torquay
Although there is a road down to the beach this is always closed and chained. To get down to the beach would involve carrying all of your kit down the cliff path (Very very steep!) and then back up again. Unless you are willing to abandon all of your kit after the dive this is a none starter unless arrangements are made for vehicular access
Meadfoot beach - Torquay
Dive 1 – slipway and shag rock
The easiest access to the water of any site! (at high tide)
Good facilities, Long surface swim but a great dive. Lots of fish, crustaceans, sponges, unusual topography – Top dive !
Dive 2 – Carpark
Easy access to the sea. Interesting topography. Must be dived at high tide.
Both sites are good night dives
Beacon Cove - Torquay
A nice dive site with several drawbacks. Access although by a ramp with no steps - is a long steep walk. Your not allowed to dive here between March and October. All of the facilities are quite a distance away by the harbour. Shame! This is a sheltered site with no other divers – Powered golf trolley anyone?
Fairy cove - Paignton
Fairly easy access. Well-sheltered site. Remote chances of finding treasure (or at least a lump of metal) as 3 ships have been wrecked here! Good facilities but due to reduced visibility only worth diving after a few days of calm conditions.
Fishcombe - Brixham
Easy access and a well-sheltered site. Reasonable facilities. Fair amount of sea-life including Conger Eels large crabs and lobsters. A site loved by some and loathed by others.
Brixham Breakwater Beach (Ladybird beach) - Brixham
Fairly easy access and a well-sheltered site. Very good facilities, Sandy / Silty bottom. Fair amount of sea-life but heavily dived and fished.
Shoalstone Beach - Brixham
Fairly easy access across rocks. Reasonable facilities. Currents can be strong offshore.
Dartmouth Castle - Dartmouth
Fantastic setting. Possible to come across canon, ammunition (Canon balls, shot etc) and pieces of the chain that used to span the river to sop invading ships. Visibility can be very good
Blackpool Sands
Fantastic facilities in a very nice setting - the dives are not great though. The main interest is the sunken forrest to the left of the beach as you look out to sea
Monument Reef ( off the carpark at the centre of Slapton Ley)
The reef is so far out from the shore that this is not really practical as a shore dive
Limpet Rocks - Torcross
This is a commercial fishery. The site is teeming with life but the bottom is netted and there is a great danger of entanglement. There is a great deal of animosity between divers and local fishermen that leads to conflicts which have become physical in the past. The site is better avoided during the Summer - Dive Hallsands just around the corner.
Hallsands - Hallsands
The site is teeming with life. A good site in a nice setting. Avoid Limpet Rocks just around the corner as it is a commercial fishery.
Great Mattiscombe Sands
Park in the Start Point car park at the lighthouse and follow the footpath to the right (i.e. west). This leads down to the beach at the bottom. Seals are very common here.
Landing Cove Start Point
Hope Cove - Outer Hope
Great dive, well sheltered site. Lots of life, Sandy gullies and vibrant reefs. Occasional finds of coins from long lost wrecks. Well worth a visit as even the journey to the site is lovely.
Thurlestone - Wreck of the Louis Sheid
Probably the best wreck dive that can be done from the shore in Devon
Wembury Bay - Plymouth
A lovely bay with lots of interesting sea life. There is a marine center, coastal walks, a church and a cafe near the beach.
Heybrook Bay - Plymouth
Nice site but difficult access down a steep and rocky path / stream
Renney Rocks - Plymouth
Just a short walk from Heybrook bay but access is still difficult over the rocks
Fort Bovisand – Plymouth
The ex MOD Site - Controlled by Royal navy Probably the best site for training in the south of England - A pretty sheltered harbour with a wreck and good visibility - run by Discovery Divers
Promenade Pier (Sunken) – Plymouth
The remains of a collapsed pier. Highly rated dive.
The Walls - Devils Point - Firestone Bay – Plymouth
Probably the deepest shore dive in South Devon at up to 42m! Get an orientation from a local dive center. Permission is required to dive here. Visibility is often poor. A highly rated site when the conditions are good.
The first site is the most Easterly (Haven Cliff) and the last one is the most Westerly (The Walls, Plymouth).
Haven Cliff (Finger and Thumb) - Seaton
Rocks to the East of the River Axe. Deep Fissures run away from the shore. Good for crabs and lobsters. Flatfish found in the silty bottom. Pretty location.
Esplanade Reefs - Seaton
Several reefs with lots of life. Reefs run parallel to the beach about 150m from shore. Beware of heavy boat traffic
Beer Head - Beer
A small but very busy fishing boat spot. Dangerous amounts of boat traffic from Easter to the Autumn so the site is best avoided.
Branscombe Beach - Branscombe
Several low "Seaweed reefs" run parallel to the beach starting at about 50m from shore. The further out (upto 500m) the bigger the reefs. Long surface swims are the order of the day! The beach in is in a very pretty location and facilities are good
Sidmouth Reefs – Sidmouth
As you look out to sea Sidmouth reef is at the left hand end of the Esplanade It is a small area just off the beach by the roundabout. Nothing of real interest - only worth diving for the practice or if you are staying in Sidmouth. (Better sites nearby!)
Chit Rocks – Sidmouth
As you look out to sea Chit Rocks are the large rocks at the right hand end of Sidmouth Esplanade nothing of real interest here - only worth diving for the practice or if you are staying in Sidmouth. (Better sites nearby!)
Ladram Bay – Ladram Bay
A pretty pebble beach backing onto sheer sandstone cliffs and flanked (Just out to sea) by huge sandstone stacks. The stones change to sand and mud as you head out to sea. The reefs head out to sea from the shore. Plenty of fish life, & scallops can be found on the silt. An unusual site with good facilities on the campsite. Due to silt only worth diving after a few days of calm conditions
Budleigh Beach – East end Carpark - Budleigh Salterton
Dive 1 A dull featureless dive over the sandy bottom near the shore (Good for training dives)
Dive 2 A long swim to the reef. The reef is a great dive with lots of life including shoals of fish, edible crabs, lobsters, place & cuttlefish
Good location with easy parking and excellent facilities. The pebble beach is steep though, and longshore currents are occasionally strong. It is possible to miss the reef and swim a long way out looking for it!
Otter Cove - Budleigh Salterton
No longer accessible from land due to a landslip
Sandy Bay – Exmouth
Lovely site with good access and great facilities available at the holiday camp - A small wreck on the left hand side of the beach - A long walk but a nice reef at the right hand end of the beach
Exmouth Pier or the slipway - Exmouth
A jump in off the high "pier wall" or a short surface swim from the slipway. Must be done at slack high tide and with SMB to warn boat traffic. A good dive if the visibility is OK. Worth getting a local orientation from Jurassic Coast Divers as there is the wreckage of a car and a large overhang (like a big cave) both of which are worth finding. Excellent facilities nearby.
Smugglers Cove – Dawlish
A spectacular beach away from the beaten track. Worth the effort required to get to the site.
Babbacombe Beach - Torquay
Very pretty site, Sheltered and shallow, easy access to the water, fantastic facilities! Lots of life including crustaceans & cuttlefish.
Ansteys Cove – Torquay
Although there is a road down to the beach this is always closed and chained. To get down to the beach would involve carrying all of your kit down the cliff path (Very very steep!) and then back up again. Unless you are willing to abandon all of your kit after the dive this is a none starter unless arrangements are made for vehicular access
Meadfoot beach - Torquay
Dive 1 – slipway and shag rock
The easiest access to the water of any site! (at high tide)
Good facilities, Long surface swim but a great dive. Lots of fish, crustaceans, sponges, unusual topography – Top dive !
Dive 2 – Carpark
Easy access to the sea. Interesting topography. Must be dived at high tide.
Both sites are good night dives
Beacon Cove - Torquay
A nice dive site with several drawbacks. Access although by a ramp with no steps - is a long steep walk. Your not allowed to dive here between March and October. All of the facilities are quite a distance away by the harbour. Shame! This is a sheltered site with no other divers – Powered golf trolley anyone?
Fairy cove - Paignton
Fairly easy access. Well-sheltered site. Remote chances of finding treasure (or at least a lump of metal) as 3 ships have been wrecked here! Good facilities but due to reduced visibility only worth diving after a few days of calm conditions.
Fishcombe - Brixham
Easy access and a well-sheltered site. Reasonable facilities. Fair amount of sea-life including Conger Eels large crabs and lobsters. A site loved by some and loathed by others.
Brixham Breakwater Beach (Ladybird beach) - Brixham
Fairly easy access and a well-sheltered site. Very good facilities, Sandy / Silty bottom. Fair amount of sea-life but heavily dived and fished.
Shoalstone Beach - Brixham
Fairly easy access across rocks. Reasonable facilities. Currents can be strong offshore.
Dartmouth Castle - Dartmouth
Fantastic setting. Possible to come across canon, ammunition (Canon balls, shot etc) and pieces of the chain that used to span the river to sop invading ships. Visibility can be very good
Blackpool Sands
Fantastic facilities in a very nice setting - the dives are not great though. The main interest is the sunken forrest to the left of the beach as you look out to sea
Monument Reef ( off the carpark at the centre of Slapton Ley)
The reef is so far out from the shore that this is not really practical as a shore dive
Limpet Rocks - Torcross
This is a commercial fishery. The site is teeming with life but the bottom is netted and there is a great danger of entanglement. There is a great deal of animosity between divers and local fishermen that leads to conflicts which have become physical in the past. The site is better avoided during the Summer - Dive Hallsands just around the corner.
Hallsands - Hallsands
The site is teeming with life. A good site in a nice setting. Avoid Limpet Rocks just around the corner as it is a commercial fishery.
Great Mattiscombe Sands
Park in the Start Point car park at the lighthouse and follow the footpath to the right (i.e. west). This leads down to the beach at the bottom. Seals are very common here.
Landing Cove Start Point
Hope Cove - Outer Hope
Great dive, well sheltered site. Lots of life, Sandy gullies and vibrant reefs. Occasional finds of coins from long lost wrecks. Well worth a visit as even the journey to the site is lovely.
Thurlestone - Wreck of the Louis Sheid
Probably the best wreck dive that can be done from the shore in Devon
Wembury Bay - Plymouth
A lovely bay with lots of interesting sea life. There is a marine center, coastal walks, a church and a cafe near the beach.
Heybrook Bay - Plymouth
Nice site but difficult access down a steep and rocky path / stream
Renney Rocks - Plymouth
Just a short walk from Heybrook bay but access is still difficult over the rocks
Fort Bovisand – Plymouth
The ex MOD Site - Controlled by Royal navy Probably the best site for training in the south of England - A pretty sheltered harbour with a wreck and good visibility - run by Discovery Divers
Promenade Pier (Sunken) – Plymouth
The remains of a collapsed pier. Highly rated dive.
The Walls - Devils Point - Firestone Bay – Plymouth
Probably the deepest shore dive in South Devon at up to 42m! Get an orientation from a local dive center. Permission is required to dive here. Visibility is often poor. A highly rated site when the conditions are good.
Links to other websites
Webcam links page A collection of the best webcams overlooking divesites
Note There are specific links for the local webcams on our Detailed Revews
Tide Tables A link to the "Tide Times.org" website - This site gives the tide times all around the UK coastline.
Note There are specific links for the local tidetimes on our Detailed Revews
Weather Forecast The BBC coast & Sea weather forecast
Note There are specific links for the local weather forcast on our Detailed Revews
Note There are specific links for the local webcams on our Detailed Revews
Tide Tables A link to the "Tide Times.org" website - This site gives the tide times all around the UK coastline.
Note There are specific links for the local tidetimes on our Detailed Revews
Weather Forecast The BBC coast & Sea weather forecast
Note There are specific links for the local weather forcast on our Detailed Revews
Nearest Webcam
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Tide Tables
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