Salcombe, England, United Kingdom

Salcombe Estuary

The Salcombe Estuary in south Devon is a sheltered ria offering some of the most accessible shore-diving in southern England. The estuary mouth and the inner bays around North Sands and South Sands give entry onto a mixed bottom of sand, eelgrass, small reefs and fine sediment in 3 to 12 metres of water. The site is famous as one of the few reliable UK locations for spotting cuttlefish during their late spring breeding season, when dozens gather in the seagrass beds to mate and lay eggs. Other resident species include sand gobies, dragonets, hermit crabs, common starfish, peacock worms, snake pipefish, broad-nosed pipefish and sea bass. The shallow rocky margins host plumose anemones, snakelocks anemones, dead man's fingers and small kelp. Visibility ranges from 2 to 6 metres and water temperatures vary between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius across the year. Tidal currents in the estuary mouth can be moderate and dives are best timed to the slack of low-water tidal phases. Suitable for entry-level shore divers and macro photographers.