Diving
Babbacombe Beach is well known as a diving site both for locals and visitors and is used as a training area aswell. The shoreline provides a gently sloping sea bed which is however very rocky. Most of these are small (few pounds each). Depths reach a maximum of around 15m depending on the tide which can be quite variable (1.5m on Neap tides to approximately 4.5m on Springs).
The good news is that there are no real currents close to the shore but increase to currents up to 1 knot more than 500m from the beach, pushing rround the promontories towards Hopes Nose.
Water temperatures range from about 9 or 10 degrees C during the winter months to 18 or 19 degrees in late summer. Visibility can vary dramatically as you can imagine (this is the UK) but can exceed 15m during good periods. Easterly winds and gales make this and all Bay areas undiveable, but fortunately the prevailing winds are South West and this ensures sheltered conditions at Babbacombe.
There is a very steep hill going down to the beach and pier and is not for faint hearted driver or a car with no power! Be warned about the car park; this is privately managed and you will be wheel clamped if you don’t pay. Up to 2 hours costs £2 and 4 or more hours cost £4.
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