Best UK snorkelling spots
You don't have to travel halfway around the world to see amazing sea life - it can be found right here around the coast of the British Isles. And all you need to see it is a snorkel and mask... and possibly a good wetsuit!
The sprawling and diverse coastline of the British Isles offers some unexpectedly spectacular snorkelling spots teeming with marine life. From seal and shark dives to the UK's very own "barrier reef" the waters of the UK offer a wealth of unique underwater experiences.
Our snorkelling guide dives into the crystal clear waters and sheltered bays around our coastline to provide you with the best places to snorkel in the UK.
Prussia Cove, Cornwall
Not only is the sheltered little beach at Prussia Cove one of Cornwall's prettiest, it is also a great place for snorkelling. Set on the south coast between Penzance and Helston the cove is somewhat off the beaten track and involves a fair hike from the car park.
The beach itself consists of a number of rocky outcrops separated by patches of shingly sand. There are a number of deep gullies which teem with marine life darting in and out of the seaweed. Common sightings include jellyfish, squid, cuttlefish, wrasse and dogfish.
Another great spot for snorkelling near to Prussia Cove is Battery Rocks in Penzance. Located right behind the famous Art Deco bathing pool access is very easy.
Lundy Island, North Devon
Sitting off the North Devon coast, remote and rugged Lundy Island offers one of the UK's most unique and pristine snorkeling experiences. Located 19 kilometers from the mainland, this island is an underwater sanctuary that has been protected since 1973, making it Britain's first Marine Nature Reserve, Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), and No Take Zone.
The waters around Lundy have flourished under the protection of overlapping conservation statuses, including a Special Area of Conservation. The reefs encircling the island are a haven for marine life, from towering kelp forests to beautiful cup corals. Snorkellers can expect to see an array of species, including the colourful ballan wrasse, elusive spider crabs, and vibrant anemones.
Perhaps the highlight of snorkeling around Lundy Island is the chance to interact with the Atlantic grey seals. Home to the largest breeding colony in the Southwest of England, these seals are known for their inquisitive and playful nature. Often eager to engage with visitors the seals will follow snorkellers whilst nibbling their flippers, and darting away in a playful game of hide and seek.
During the summer months, Lundy's conservation team organizes Warden-led Snorkel Safaris, providing expert guidance. For those looking to venture independently, take a boat from Ilfracombe. The skippers, with their expert local knowledge, will know where the best spots to spot seals are depending on the tide.
While Lundy Island offers an unparalleled snorkeling experience, it is not the only place you can get up close and personal with seals. Both the Farne Islands in Northumberland and St Martin's in the Isles of Scilly are great places to snorkel with seals.
Swanage Pier, Dorset
Swanage is a great destination for family-friendly snorkelling with its easy access and sheltered, calm waters. Both the town's Old and New Piers provide safe entry points into crystal clear waters, where visibility can reach up to 10 meters.
There's plenty of marine life for snorkellers to spot around the Old Pier with an array of creatures such as spider crabs, colorful anemones, soft corals, various fish species, and even lobsters. The diversity continues across the bay with a host of other sea creatures including Tompot Blennies, Pipefish, Velvet and Edible Crabs, along with occasional jellyfish and sandeels.
For those looking for other nearby sites to explore, Dorset's Jurassic Coast is home to plenty more, each with unique features. The rocky ledges of Kimmeridge Bay are great for lobsters while the seagrass of Studland Bay is one of the few places in the UK to spot seahorses.
Stackpole Quay, South Wales
Photo: Mark Jones
Nestled between the sandy favourites of Barafundle and Freshwater East, Stackpole Quay is a picturesque inlet protected by a historic stone quay. Recently refurbished the little quay is still used by a few working fishing boats. This charming spot is also one of the best known snorkelling destination on the Pembrokeshire coast.
Protected from northerly and westerly winds you'll want to head here for the high tide. The best time of year to visit Stackpole Quay is late May / early June when the it becomes the stage for a remarkable natural phenomenon: the gathering of thousands of spider crabs. These crabs, known for their impressive leg spans and spiny exteriors, congregate in massive numbers to breed, creating a breathtaking underwater ballet of limbs and shells.
The adventure begins as you swim out through the narrow inlet. The seabed transitions from a pebble bottom to a rocky reef, home to a variety of marine life that thrives in these sheltered waters. Among the seaweed and rocky crevices, snorkelers can spot shanny, ballan wrasse, and pollack. Perhaps more intriguing are the pipefish and sea hares, the latter actually being a type of large sea snail even though it doesn't have an obvious shell.
Above water, the quay offers home comforts in the form of a tea room where you can enjoy a post-snorkel slice of cake and cuppa. The nearby National Trust car park provides easy access to this picture-postcard snorkeling haven.
Coll Island, Hebrides, Scotland
The pristine waters of Scotland's Hebrides Islands, offers a snorkelling adventure that is pretty much unrivaled in the UK. Each summer, the island becomes one of the best places in the world to encounter basking sharks. These enormous creatures, the second largest fish in the world, can reach lengths of up to 10 metres and are a majestic (if not slightly terrifying) sight in the wild.
Despite their imposing size and a huge dorsal fin that the uninformed might mistake for that of a great white shark (speaking from personal experience!!), basking sharks are entirely harmless to humans. These gentle giants are filter feeders, consuming vast quantities of plankton which they sift through their gills as they slowly cruise through the water. The sight of their massive bodies and large, gaping mouths moving gracefully through the water is both awe-inspiring and somewhat unnerving for first-time viewers.
The basking sharks visit the Hebrides as they follow the seasonal blooms of plankton, making the summer months the time for sightings. Their predictable migration patterns have made Coll a popular base for wildlife enthusiasts eager to get a closer look at these fascinating fish.
To experience these magnificent creatures up close, joining a guided snorkel tour is pretty much essential. Not only do these tours provide the safety of a boat to reach the areas where basking sharks are most commonly found, but they also offer the expertise of guides who are familiar with the sharks' behaviors and the local marine environment.
North Landing, Yorkshire
Photo: Rob Mason
Tucked away among the dramatic chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head, North Landing is often cited as the best snorkelling spot on the Yorkshire coast. This sheltered sandy bay has a number of rocky outcrops with plenty of kelp for marine life to make a home in.
North Landing's geography forms something of a natural harbour against the often rough North Sea, hence the name - small fishing boats still land their catch here. Over recent years there has been some friction between the afore-mentioned fishermen and scuba divers, which is frowned upon, although still permitted. There are no such issues with snorkelling.
While the bay itself is protected and generally calm, snorkellers are advised to stay within its confines. The mouth of the bay can experience stronger currents, which can challenge even experienced divers.
Visitors to North Landing should be prepared for varying visibility conditions. Being the North Sea the clarity of the water can change widely. Conditions are likely to be best on calm days and not after heavy rain.
One of the bay's hidden treasures is the wreck of the SS Rosa, a navy steam barge that sank in 1930. All 16 crew members were rescued in a testament to the enduring spirit of the local lifeboat crew. Today, the boiler of the SS Rosa, often compared in size to a small car, along with scattered wreckage, lies just beneath the waves at high tide.
Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
There are any number of great snorkeling spots along the west coast of Anglesey's Holy Island. The best of these are clustered in and around the sheltered sandy beach at Trearddur Bay. With sheltered conditions and shallow waters these spots are well-suited to snorkelers of all skill levels.
The crescent-shaped bay here is protected by numerous rocky outcrops and sections of reef. Perfect for rock pooling at low tide they make for some fine snorkelling at high.
Next door to Trearddur is the little sandy cove of Porth Diana. Quieter than its neighbour, this is an exceptional dive site. It is best accessed at high tide, with the cove protected from winds both from the west and east, ensuring calm and clear water.
Those in the know enter the water on the left side of the beach through "Ravenspoint Gully". From here, snorkellers can venture around the small island off the beach. The area is teeming with marine life, including numerous gullies and crevices that serve as the perfect hiding spots for an array of sea creatures.
Sheringham, Norfolk
Photo: Michael John Button
The North Norfolk Chalk Reef is among the largest chalk reefs in the world. Dubbed the "Norfolk Barrier Reef", it runs for more than 20 miles along the Norfolk coast it runs between Bacton and Cley. This unique underwater landscape boasts some dramatic features such as towering arches and deep gullies, carved out during the Ice Age. These rocky contours form an oasis of marine life among the soft sand of the North Sea
The chalk reef predominantly lies in shallow water with depths ranging from less than a meter near the beach to about 4-6 meters further out. Since its designation as a Marine Conservation Zone in 2016, the reef has continued to thrive with a vibrant array of marine organisms.
Snorkellers can expect to encounter colorful sponges, delicate pink sea fan coral, lively sea squirts, and a variety of anemones and starfish. The area is also home to some species rarely seen in the North Sea such as the Atlantic ancula leopard spotted goby, sea slug, the blush-red strawberry anemone.
Visibility in the waters around Sheringham tends to be best during the summer months. During this time of year water temperatures can reach a balmy 20 degrees Celsius, making a wetsuit almost optional.
Sheringham provides the most straightforward access to this underwater wonder world. There is a good section straight of the Esplanade, although the best spots require venturing a few hundred meters from shore, which we would not recommend.
For those new to snorkeling, the "Sheringham Snorkel Trail" is a somewhat flowery name given to the old Victorian sewer pipe that runs out to sea in front of the beach huts. Serving as a perfect underwater guide the pipe is only in a couple of meters of water at low tide, making it a safe and fascinating route for novice snorkelers to follow.
St Brides Haven, Pembrokeshire
Photo: Dave Kelly
St Brides Haven is a pretty little shingle beach at the head of a narrow bay. One of the best places to snorkel on the Pembrokeshire coast it is suitable for all levels.
Visibility is generally good , thanks to the coarse sand that settles quickly, even if the water becomes slightly murky with any swell. The bay is well-sheltered from most wind directions, although it's worth noting that north-westerly wind does get in here, making it choppy and reducing visibility.
The seabed within the bay has a sand bottom with rock ledges to either side. The best route for snorkelers is to head out along the left side towards the mouth of the bay, where the sand gives way to rocky terrain offering plenty of interesting features to explore. Depths here range from 4 to 6 meters with some areas dropping off to deeper zones.
The kelp fringing the clear waters of St Brides Haven is home to a plethora of marine life. Regulars spider crabs, flatfish, wrasse, dogfish, lobsters and blennies.
St Brides Haven is generally a very safe snorkeling spot, ideal for families and beginners. However, the bay does see some boat traffic so it is worth using a surface marker buoy (SMB) to ensure visibility to other water users. This simple precaution helps maintain safety while enjoying the underwater scenery.
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly are an enchanting archipelago off the coast of Cornwall which offer some of the UK's most pristine snorkeling experiences. There are five inhabited islands and numerous smaller uninhabited ones which provide an ideal backdrop for underwater adventures, particularly around the main islands, which are sheltered by numerous offshore reefs.
One of the most thrilling aspects of snorkeling in the Isles of Scilly is the opportunity to swim alongside seals. These playful pinnipeds can be seen on organized snorkeling excursions, which guide visitors to spots where seals are known to frolic.
Some of the Scillies best snorkelling is found on the remote northwestern corner of the main island, St. Mary's. The rocky coast from Pelistry Bay to Bar Point is renowned for its vibrant underwater landscapes. Here, snorkellers can explore rocky outcrops covered in colorful sponges and corals. Amid the kelp and seagrass, a diverse range of marine life thrives, including blennies, large wrasse, groupers, and Pollock, not to mention an array of jellyfish. However, visitors are advised to be cautious of the strong currents and choppier waters that can present challenges even to experienced snorkelers.
For novice snorkelers or those looking for a safe spot, Bar Beach on the island of St Agnes offers an ideal setting. A narrow sand spit connecting St Agnes to the little islet of Gugh, the crystal-clear waters are perfect for beginners. Please note the beach is only safe at low tide when the sandbar is exposed. Anyone entering the water should be aware that strong currents occur once the tide rises and the sandbar becomes submerged.
Beyond snorkelling, the Isles of Scilly are also known as the shipwreck capital of England, making it a prime destination for serious divers. The surrounding waters house countless shipwrecks, each with its own story and providing a habitat for a rich variety of marine life.