Is Isles of Scilly good for beginner divers?

Yes, partly: 2 of the 9 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Menawethan (Eastern Isles seals) and Bartholomew Ledges Wreck (protected). The others need more experience or a higher certification.

What is the water temperature in Isles of Scilly?

The water is usually between 8 °C and 16 °C over the year.

What marine life can you see in Isles of Scilly?

Divers regularly see seals, crustaceans, nudibranchs and anemones.

Isles of Scilly

Diving in United Kingdom

9 documented dive sites, 2 of them for Open Water divers. Known for seals, crustaceans and nudibranchs.

Best months: Jun–Sep
Water: 8–16 °C
Levels: Open Water, Advanced, Experienced, Technical
Nearest airport: ISC

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

Isles of Scilly in October

Possible

Sea: 14 °C; at the surface
Air: 15 °C; 14 °C at night
Rain: 110 mm; one of the wettest months
Wind: 30 km/h; on average

Exposure suit: 7 mm full suit or 8/7 mm semi-dry · if you feel the cold: 8/7 mm semi-dry or drysuit. How we choose

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Compare with another destination

Most charters run May–September, with June–September given as the season; water ranges from 8 °C in January to 16 °C in August.

Source: divesitedirectory.co.uk

Dive sites in Isles of Scilly

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Protected wrecks such as HMS Colossus, Bartholomew Ledges and HMS Association can be visited only under licence, which the islands' three dive charter boats hold each year.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m2 sites

Reef

down to 6 m

Menawethan (Eastern Isles seals)

A shallow rocky platform in the Eastern Isles where playful seals approach divers and nibble fins, best around high tide.

Open Water
Seals

Wreck

down to 15 m

Bartholomew Ledges Wreck (protected)

A licensed protected wreck site where 16th-century cargo from an unidentified armed vessel lies under tall kelp at 10-15 m.

Open Water

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m1 site

Fissure

down to 30 m

Dave's Crack (Sweet Shop)

A reef crevice to about 30 m with boulders and swim-throughs, discovered by Dave McBride.

Advanced

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m5 sites

Wreck

down to 40 m

Cita

MV Cita sank in 1997 and has numerous swim-throughs to explore.

Experienced
Nudibranchs

Wreck

down to 40 m

HMS Association (protected wreck)

A 90-gun warship built in 1697, lost on the Western Rocks, scattered through deep rock gullies and boulders from 5 to 40 m.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 43 m

Italia

A wreck that starts shallow and runs down a reef wall to 43 m, with so much to see.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 33 m

King Cadwallon

A beautifully encrusted wreck, showing how much colourful life a Scilly wreck can carry.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 35 m

Lady Charlotte

A 1917 steamer wreck lying from 10 m to 35 m, lost in dense fog.

Experienced

Technical and specialty dives

1 site

Wreck

down to 48 m

Plympton and Hathor

Two ships lost on the same Lethegus pinnacle, in 1909 and 1920, one wreck lying across the other down to 48 m.

Technical
Anemones

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Seals
Crustaceans
Nudibranchs
Anemones
Lesser spotted dogfish
Jellyfish

Where is Isles of Scilly?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Isles of Scilly (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Nearest airport: ISC

Isles of Scilly: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Isles of Scilly?: The best months to dive Isles of Scilly are Jun–Sep. Most charters run May–September, with June–September given as the season; water ranges from 8 °C in January to 16 °C in August.
Is Isles of Scilly good for beginner divers?: Yes, partly: 2 of the 9 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Menawethan (Eastern Isles seals) and Bartholomew Ledges Wreck (protected). The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Isles of Scilly?: The water is usually between 8 °C and 16 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Isles of Scilly?: Divers regularly see seals, crustaceans, nudibranchs and anemones.
How do you dive Isles of Scilly?: The nearest airport is ISC.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash