Anglesey · United Kingdom · Sand slope
Porth Dafarch
Rippled sand where Ocean Divers are introduced to the sea
Photo: Monsyn · CC BY-SA 4.0
Porth Dafarch is a sheltered bay on the west coast of Holy Island and a firm favourite for introducing Ocean Divers to the sea. The beach entry is easy at high tide, and the rocky, sandy bottom slopes down to around 8 m, with ripples that make it a good place to learn navigation.
Where it is and how deep
53.2874° N, 4.6513° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive starts on the beach. At high tide the entry and exit are easy, and there is plenty of space on the stone benches above the sand to lay out and put on kit before walking down to the water. From the water's edge the bay slopes down over a rocky, sandy bottom to a depth of around 8 m at its deepest, which keeps the whole dive shallow.
Near the beach the sand is formed into ripples that run at right angles to the shore. Those ripples give a steady reference line on the bottom, which is why the bay is a good place to learn underwater navigation and practise pilotage, and why it is used to introduce Ocean Divers to the sea. Kelp and fish are further out, beyond the sandy area.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Anglesey: April to October is the main diving season, when water temperature and visibility are best; local clubs keep diving through the winter months.
Photos from Porth Dafarch
Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Porth Dafarch - Missouri Wreck Dive · Iwan Jones on YouTube
Porth Dafarch · Alistair Allen on YouTube
Sources
- Shore diving sites — Deifwyr Môn Divers
- Porth Dafarch dive site — Scubago
Photo credits
- A small cove with sand and dark rocks below green-topped cliffs and clear shallow water by Monsyn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A sandy beach with weed-covered rocks leading out to a rocky headland and calm sea by Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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