Dive Babbacombe

Situated on the South West Coast of England Babbacombe Beach enjoys the relative warmth of the Gulf Stream as it reaches across the North Atlantic bringing a diveristy of widlife and nutrients. The resulting conditions ensure a rich diversity of life unique to this short piece of coastline. The variety and colour can clearly be seen in photographs on this site.

To get the very best out of your visit here are a few tips to help with your planning:

Depths and Currents - Entry from the shore provides a gently sloping sea bed which is strewn with small rocks but easily managed. Once in the water the dive can reach a maximum of around 15m depending on the state of the tide. The tidal range (difference in tide height between high and low water) will vary from as little as 1.5m on Neap tides to approximately 4.5m on Springs. There or no appreciable currents adjacent to the shore but divers should be aware of a currents up to 1 knot if they venture more than 500m rom the beach.

Temperature and Visibilty - Water temperatures range from about 9 or 10 degrees C during the winter months to 18 or 19 degrees in late summer. This is certainly not Stoney Cove! No ice breaking here. Visibilty will vary dramatically but can exceed 15m during calm periods. Note that Easterly winds may seriously reduce visibilty. A good indication can be obtained by viewing or web cam.

Car Parking - There is car parking directly adjacent to the beach and adjoining the cafe. To be sue of a space it is worth arriving early during the peak season and at weekends. The cafe is open from 8.30am during at those times and there's always a warm welcome awaiting you as you prepare for the day's activies.