Pembrokeshire & Skomer · United Kingdom · Reef · Kelp forest
Martins Haven
A pink sea fan growing above a lost lobster pot on the reef
Photo: M J Roscoe · CC BY-SA 2.0
Martins Haven is a pebble-beach shore dive inside the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone and, at 30 m on its deep side, one of the deepest shore dives in the UK. Soft sand and rocky outcrops edged with kelp hold seals, octopus and pink sea fans, and the reserve's no-take rule covers the whole bay.
Also known as Martin's Haven.
Where it is and how deep
51.7370° N, 5.2445° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers walk in off loose pebbles, where low tide exposes slippery kelp-covered rocks, and keep clear of the jetty. The bay floor is soft sand broken by rocky outcrops. The east side stays at about 15 m, while the west deepens towards the exit of the bay, where it reaches 30 m.
Following the contours of the reef with it on the left hand side leads down to around 12 to 18 m, depending on the tide. There a loose lobster pot rests on the seabed with a pink sea fan above it. One side of the bay is richer in octopus and large anemones, and curious seal pups often come to inspect divers.
Past the drop-off the dive can turn into a drift, and outside the bay the currents can be strong. In summer the Skomer ferry runs from the haven, so divers surface on an SMB.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Pembrokeshire & Skomer: Diving runs all year round; storms and strong northerlies cut visibility, and northerlies can close St Brides and Martins Haven.
Know before you go
- Low tide exposes slippery kelp-covered rocks on the pebble beach at the entry.
- Strong currents outside the bay, and past the drop-off the dive can become a drift.
- Tourist boats run to Skomer Island from 9am to 4pm; an SMB marks divers at the surface.
Photos from Martins Haven
Bernard Picton · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dive videos
Wales Best of the West - Episode 3: Martin's Haven · Dan Dŵr Cymru on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can divers take scallops at Martins Haven?+
No. The bay lies in the Skomer reserve, which has a strict no-take policy and divers found taking scallops there are fined.
Sources
- Pembrokeshire Shore Diving — Haven Diving Services
- Martins Haven — Finstrokes
Photo credits
- A grey pickup parked on a pebble beach below a jetty, with an orange-and-black inflatable boat and its crew on the water by M J Roscoe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A single nudibranch, pale orange with clusters of rounded pink-red knobs along its back, on a black background by Bernard Picton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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