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, Torquay
Babbacombe beach offers a superb sheltered yet interesting dive site. The rocky reef rolls down to a sandy bottom with a maximum depth of 10m, making it an ideal training site. The reef follows the curve of the beach from the rocky outcrop to the north west to the end of the pier. The bay is a cuttlefish breeding ground, which attracts divers from all round. Other frequently spotted species include pipefish, wrasse, dogfish, blennies, shannies, crabs (spider, edible and velvet swimming), lobsters and the seasonal lump sucker. Kelp beds are home to plenty of sea slugs and we even have the pretty Devonshire Cup Coral on ‘Mushroom Rock’ (30degrees from the slipway).
There is public pay and display parking, a seasonal cafe and toilet facility and easy water access via the slipway, or steps.
, Torquay
Meadfoot beach is one of 2 halves. To the east there is a small car park and rocky entry point. Diving to the east results in rocky outcrops on a sandy bottom. To the west there is on-road parking and water entry down the slipway. The sandy entry turns into kelp covered rock to the east, or if you are up to the 350m surface swim, East Shag Rock is well worth the swim. Gullies and peaks on the land side are home to various crustaceans including crabs and flatfish are found on the sand. Max depth 11m. Making the swim back to the shore needs caution – keep east as the tide can sometimes have divers drift onto the rocks at the western end of the beach.
Parking is either pay and display or on-road. Again there is a seasonal cafe and toilets.
, Torquay
This pretty little cove is banned from diving from March and October without permission of the Harbour Master. There is a sea grass bed which is frequently scoured (unsuccessfully) for seahorses. The two rocks offer interesting gullies and night dives are fun here. There are better sites in the bay and the relatively steep walk and pebbly beach make this more of an occasional dive. Blennies and shannies are plentiful on the rocks, along with crabs, anemones and wrasse.
Public parking is available at Beacon Quay, along with watersports, dive shop (no air), cafe’s, restaurant and bar which are a 500mt walk from the actual cove.
, Paignton
Accessed from Paignton Harbour, Fairy Cove has a maximum depth of 9-10m but the gullies and (very) broken wrecks of three large warships make it an interesting site at high tide. Diving straight out to the north reveals a reef leading to a sandy bottom and not a lot else. Swim round to the south-east and within 200m you will start to notice metal from three large warship wrecks – T-189, HMS Savage and HMS Venerable.
Parking can be found in the form of the multi-storey car park behind the harbour. You can kit up in the car park and walk down to the steps leading over the harbour wall to the beach. There is a small diving shop here which offers some equipment sales and air fills. The harbour is surrounded by various take-aways, shop etc.
, Brixham
A shallow shore dive again, the breakwater has plenty of holes for lobsters and crabs to hide in – very good for night diving. To the east the rocky shoreline is home to starfish, wrasse and crabs.
Parking is limited on the Breakwater Beach Carpark. There is a small multi-storey across the road. Seasonal cafe and toilets overlook the beach.
, Brixham
Head over the rocks past the open air swimming pool into the water. Follow the reef out as it descends to 20m, where 100m from the pool you will find a three bladed propeller of an aircraft. Watch out for broken lines with hooks as it is very popular with anglers. Species to look out for differ from the rest of the bay including conger, octopus, angler fish and more common pollack and wrasse.
Again divers are advised to carry a DSMB on all boat dives due to motorised craft, tides and possible currents at the dive sites.
, Torbay
One of the famous Torbay marine landmarks, the Ore Stone stands 32m high with a sandy bottom at 20m. Kelp covered rocky gullies and small caves offer a lovely dive site and is home to a variety of marine life, including large lobsters and crabs, dogfish, wrasse, congers, flatfish and carpets of starfish on the sandy bottom. There is a dog leg swim through, but once in it you can see the light for the exit. The current tends to carry you through and slack water diving is essential.
, Torbay
The bay’s other large marine landmark, the slightly larger Thatcher Rock is found three-quarters of a mile west of the Orestone. Only 300m from the shore, the rock is also subject to tidal streams although less severe than that of the Ore Stone, slack tide is still recommended. A similar terrain to that of the Ore Stone, the sandy bed is found at 12m and is frequently covered in muscle beds, resulting in large numbers of starfish and huge spider crabs!
, Torbay
Submerged in at least 6m of water at all times, Tucker Rock can be found 650m north-east of the Ore Stone. There is a lovely drop off to 25m on the north face, to a sand and mud bottom. The ridge with rocky gullies are covered in sponges and result in a beautiful scenic dive.
, Torbay
A pretty rocky outcrop running from 8m to a sandy bed at 14m, the Morris Rogue can be found about half a mile west-south-west of Thatcher Rock. Anemones are plentiful and life includes starfish, flatfish and crabs. The tides are not such a concern on this dive although caution should be taken around spring tides.
, Torbay
Not so much caves as large swim throughs, the caves have a maximum depth of 15m and are ideally dived on a high tide. Watch out for all the normal critters, but mostly enjoy the rock formations. Lovely dive site.
12 May 1917
On a sandy sea bed at 20m the Galicia is very broken over a large area, the highest point of which sits at 15m. Rolls of cloth and barrels of cement can be found scattered around. She is home to many conger eels.
10 August 1918
232ft long sat on an even keel at 25m with her deck at 18m, the Bretagne is a small ship but can offer a superb dive. There is plenty of life including pollack and congers, anemones and coral. Silt build up inside requires caution, along with the razor sharp holes that have rusted through her.
1 September 1917
Her stern lays alongside her starboard side, making this wreck a mulitple dive to take her all in. The rest of the wreck is badly broken especially amidships. She sits 8m proud of the 29m sea bed and can offer some nice swim throughs.
16 September 1918
Completely upright on a sea bed at 32m, you can still see where the torpedo struck her all those years ago. Warning: Wedges of phosphorus have been found on this ship and will ignite on contact with air.
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