Plymouth is undoubtedly a diver’s paradise, with diverse marine life and a rich maritime history which proves you need not travel far to have epic diving adventures. Whether you live in the area or are heading down on holiday, scuba diving in Plymouth really does promise some incredible experiences.
As locals, the Aquanauts team certainly know a thing or two about scuba diving in Plymouth and we are incredibly proud to be able to share this unspoiled part of the world with others. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best dive sites in and around Plymouth so that you can have an unforgettable time when diving during your time in the city.
Firestone Bay
Firestone Bay is one of the most-loved spots in Plymouth amongst all kinds of watersports enthusiasts - and it’s easy to see why! The sheltered bay is just a stone's throw away from the city centre but boasts beautiful views out towards Plymouth Sound as well as a unique tidal pool and designated bathing waters popular with open water swimmers.
The vast waters of Firestone Bay are also home to one of the best places to go scuba diving in Plymouth. In fact, any local diver will have dived at this Plymouth dive site and will usually tell you how fantastic it is! Access is easy via the beach which slopes away gaining depth to around 10 metres, before giving way to the steep, cliff-like drop-off of 40 metres.
Firestone Bay is bursting with life and is a must-visit site if you are scuba diving in Plymouth to see awesome marine life. A good dive torch is needed if planning a deep dive and you’ll see plenty as you ascend the drop-off including soft corals, rays, dogfish, conger eels and octopus! Do note that some considerations will need to be made before diving here. As Firestone Bay sits in the shipping channel, the Longroom needs to be notified before and after diving for safety. As a deep dive, we would also recommend that you always stay at a recreational depth of 30 metres.
Plymouth Waterfront
Tucked just around the shoreline from Firestone Bay is the main part of Plymouth Waterfront. Several great Plymouth dive sites can be found here and the Waterfront has long been reserved as a popular location for both shallow and deeper shore dives.
The dive sites themselves are located in front of The Waterfront Pub, once the Royal Western Yacht Club and, more recently, home to the Anthony Gormley sculpture named Look II. The outer harbour walls make the perfect location for shallow dives and the nutrient-rich waters attract all kinds of marine life, including conger eels, pipefish, wrasse, crabs and dogfish. Advanced divers looking for a deeper dive when scuba diving in Plymouth can also head southwest of the west harbour wall, following the sea bed to find it ascends deeper into a cliff-life drop-off.
Like Firestone Bay, this dive site sits on the edge of the shipping channel which means that the Longroom needs to be notified before and after diving here for safety. You should also check for high tide as the Waterfront is best dived at high water, ideally in neap tides. Stick within a recreational depth of 30 metres and take your torch with you to be able to safely take in everything this part of the ocean has to offer!
James Eagan Layne
One of the main attractions of scuba diving in Plymouth is the proximity of the city to a range of amazing beaches slightly further afield. James Eagan Layne is the perfect example of this as it is a must-visit dive site found just into Cornwall at Whitsand Bay.
If you’re into wreck diving, you simply must try diving here as James Eagan Layne is arguably the best-known wreck in the whole of the Plymouth Sound. The wreck is still holding some of its precious WWII cargo including its visible railway wheels. It is also bursting with marine life such as soft corals which can be viewed across most of the bow and the deck and give it a reef-like feel.
This dive site near Plymouth has a maximum depth of 24 metres and is therefore suitable for divers certified in PADI Advanced Open Water and above.
Image copyright: The Ships Project
HMS Scylla
Whitsand Bay is also home to another spectacular wreck: HMS Scylla. The ship itself served the Royal Navy for 25 years and was purposely sunk off the South Cornwall coast to create Europe’s first artificial reef. It is now home to over 250 species of marine life and promises a totally unique diving experience, combining maritime history with such a huge range of species.
Due to the unique nature of HMS Scylla, it’s important to follow specific guidance when planning a trip here. The most important thing to bear in mind is that the ship is a closed wreck and you must not penetrate it during your diving. Remember your torch and knife for safety, along with your underwater camera for capturing the spectacular range of marine life that awaits!
The Mewstone
If you do have the means to travel just outside of the city for your Plymouth scuba diving experience, a visit to the Mewstone is well worth it. The Mewstone is an uninhabited island off the coast of Wembury Beach (around 25 minutes from the city centre). While it looks close when viewed from land, the island sits quite far off-shore and offers a fantastic shallow reef which is the perfect boat dive.
The reef at Mewstone is made up of rocky, finger-like gullies and can be enjoyed at shallower depths starting at around 18 metres. It’s perfect for budding underwater photographers with shoals of wrasse, bass and pollock all often seen, as well as starfish and sea cucumbers which move along the reef in the shallows.
As this dive site is deeper in certain places, we would recommend visiting with a guide and a minimum certification level of Advanced Open Water with the Deep Diver speciality.
Le Poulmic
For relatively new divers or those with the PADI Open Water certification only, there are still some fantastic sites you can visit for scuba diving in Plymouth. Le Poulmic is one of them, as this French Transport Ship wreck sits at approximately 18 metres deep making it quite easily accessible.
This Plymouth dive site changes vastly with the seasons, promising a fascinating experience no matter when you visit. Summer offers an abundance of seaweed on the shallower sections, while winter boasts the chance to spot some bigger marine life such as eels, spider crabs, soft corals and anemones. The site itself is notably scattered and therefore varied between the sandy bottom and wreckage.
We have no doubt that these recommendations will have given you plenty to consider when planning your Plymouth scuba diving schedule. Our team are always happy to help you maximise your time diving in the area, whether that’s by recommending the right kit for your chosen Plymouth dive site or by offering tips of further details about the sites themselves. Simply get in touch with us if you have any questions and we’ll be on hand to help you have the best experience diving in and around the Sound!