Pembrokeshire is a treasure chest when it comes to its marine habitat, and is as varied, dramatic and colourful as the Coastal National Park itself. There are dives that cater to all levels of ability, and with regular sightings of porpoise, dolphins and seals, not to mention over 350 known wrecks that litter the surrounding waters, its easy to understand why many divers return year on year to indulge in underwater Pembrokeshire.
Pembrokeshire's long and undulating coastline boasts several ideal places to launch dive boats for visiting clubs and societies. These launch slipways and beaches give access to some of the best diving in the UK, many of which are only a short distance from land. With a variety of different dives to discover, whether you're travelling alone or as part of a visiting club, you'll be spoilt for choice at what's available.
Diving out of Fishguard you'll be able to explore ‘Strumble head' and ‘needle rocks,' two well-known sites with varying topography and teaming with life. Abercastle, a little further down the coast is another favourite with divers wanting to find some good shallow diving areas. St. David's has dive sites both to the West and to the South of the Peninsula. Whether you fancy a drift dive along one the sites around Ramsey Island, or something more sedate around Green Scar and Black scar out of Solva, you're sure to find something to keep you busy in this, the northern area of St. Bride's Bay.
One of the crowning jewels of underwater Pembrokeshire has to be the waters around Skomer, Skokholm and Middleholm, which form part of the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, one of only three such reserves in the UK and as such, has been designated as a ‘Special Area of Conservation' under the EC Habitats Directive. Here you'll be able to visit the intact and well documented wreck of the ‘Lucy', explore the reefs and experience first hand the biodiversity associated with marine reserves, and of course, interact passively with the playful seals that are scattered throughout the area.
And don't forget there's Milford Haven, well known for its refineries but also for its wrecks, many of which lie in the Haven and therefore protected from prevailing winds. Even on these well dived wrecks, divers discover new clues to the past on a daily occurrence. In November 2002, divers only then discovered the bell of the ‘Greek' wreck, and more recently, on the ‘Dakotian' wreck in 2005, an unexploded mine was found by local divers !
Karen Flannery, owner of West Wales Diving Centre Ltd
Needle Rocks - Launch from Pwllgwaelod. The needles are on the far side of Dinas Island at a depth of upto 15m. Plenty of gullies to explore.
Leysian, a wreck just out of Abercastle at a depth of about 15m. Lots of wreckage and fish.
Szent Istvan, a wreck off Ramsey Island in 11m - 22m of water. Impressive prop.
Graffoe, a wrecked steamship in 10m -15m on the northern end of Ynys Bery, Ramsey Island.
Green Scar - different wildlife than in the south of St Brides Bay, rocky bottom, no current. Depth 5-20m. Launch from Little Haven, Broad Haven or Solva.
Stack Rocks - north reef has deep gullies with a vast amount of wildlife, making this a good site for a second dive. Depth is 10-20m. The east side has a bouldered bottom, sheltered from south-westerly winds with a depth of 5-16m. Launch from Little Haven or Broad Haven.
Hen & Chicks - (or Chicken and Chips as it was recently called!) This has a rocky, bouldered bottom, good for a first or second dive, plenty of wildlife. Depth 5-16m. Launch from Little Haven or Broad Haven.
Nabs Head - a pleasant reef running from the mainland at a depth of between 5-20m. Launch from Little Haven or Broad Haven. Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, launch from Little Haven or Broad Haven.
High Point - steep rock walls, good for a second dive after Skomer, watch out for fishing tackle. Depth of 5-18m.
The Lucy - a Dutch coaster in excellent condition and sitting upright on the sand/mud bottom. Sunk in 1967. Dive only at slack water. Depth - bow 37m, sea bed 42m.
North Wall - steep rock steps that are almost vertical. Loads of wildlife, be aware of any currents. Depth 5-42m.
Garland Stone - rocky bottom excellent dive, keep between rock and island and to the south. Can have strong currents. Depth 5-25m.
Deadeye Wreck - a good second dive. An unknown wreck that can be dived at any state of the tide. Depth 9-18m.
Molesley - a cargo steamer sunk in November 1929. Can be found under the cliffs of Middle Isle. The bottom is rock and kelp. Depth 4-10m.
Faraday - a cable laying ship sunk by German bombing during the war. Length 380 ft, an enjoyable dive. Depth 5-20m. Launch from Dale or Gelliswick.
Dakotion - merchant ship sunk in November 1940, length 400 ft. A good dive at any state of the tide, the bottom is mainly gravel. Depth 8-18m. Launch from Dale or Gelliswick.
Behar - a cable laying ship sunk two days before the Dakotion. Rock and gravel bottom. Watch for current between high and low water slack. Depth 7-16m. Launch from Dale or Gelliswick.
Thor - a coaster of 240 ft lying almost upside down on a muddy bottom. Sank during the war when it was swamped by a following sea. Loads of fish life. Depth 18-24m.
Loch Shiel - commonly known as the whiskey wreck due to the fact it was carrying a cargo of whiskey. Sank in January 1894. Rock and sand bottom, depth 5-12m.
Admantios J Pithios - commonly known as "The Greek". A cargo steamer that was carrying grain, sunk in 1940. Length 285 ft. Good rummage wreck, rocky bottom but beware of swells. Depth 5-20m.
Mid Channel Rocks - large area of rocks between shipping channels. Marked by a post at the entrance to Milford Haven Waterway. Keep east to south-east of the post. Watch for currents at the surface. Depth 8-25m.
Highland Home - sunk in the 1890's a good salvage wreck when not buried in the sand. Length 250 ft. Beware of currents. Depth 24-28m.
Iotonia. A wreck at Mewspoint. Home to some exotic sea life: a conger eel, blennies, Cuttle fish & sea slugs. Depth 8m
Shore dives
Martins Haven - a fantastic shore dive for beginners and the more advanced. Keep to the edges as the bay is used by the Skomer ferry. Use surface marker buoys, plenty to see as this shore dive is in the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve. Depth 0-25m.
St Brides Haven - sandy bottom with good rock sides with loads of wildlife. Be aware of fishermen on the left. Depth 0-17m.
Stackpole Quay, where the old boat house has been turned into a Tea Room, ideal for non-diving partners! Not suitable for diving when the wind is southerly.
