Arrival & Planning — Friday 10th April 2026

Eight members of Marlin Sub Aqua Club met in Torquay on Friday evening to finalise plans for a weekend of shore diving at Babbacombe Beach and Brixham Breakwater.

This was the club’s second trip of an already busy diving calendar and, somewhat unexpectedly, our first sea dives of the year after the planned Dunoon trip was unfortunately cancelled. A key aim of the weekend was to introduce two members to UK sea diving for the first time, although one diver sadly had to withdraw due to an ear infection.

After discussing dive plans over a few drinks, members headed off to accommodation across the Torquay area, ranging from B&Bs and Airbnbs to budget hotels such as Premier Inn. Coastal Waters B&B proved to be an excellent choice — clean, recently renovated, and great value at £150 for two people over two nights, including breakfast and parking permits valid throughout the Torbay area.

Torquay once again proved an ideal base, offering easy access to both dive sites along with plenty of restaurants, pubs, and seaside atmosphere.

Day 1 — Brixham Breakwater

The group assembled at 09:00 at Brixham Breakwater Beach, with divers organised into three staggered waves to ensure adequate shore cover throughout the day.

Conditions were favourable despite a strengthening Force 5 easterly wind. Fortunately, the site remained relatively sheltered with only minimal swell, providing comfortable and safe diving conditions.

Dive 1 — Breakwater Wall

The first dive followed the rocks along the left-hand side of the breakwater. The most productive area for marine life was where the rock structure met the seabed.

Marine life highlights included:

  • Velvet swimming crabs
  • Spiny and edible crabs
  • Squat lobsters
  • Pipefish
  • Ballan wrasse
  • Cuckoo wrasse
  • Hermit crabs
  • Brown shrimp
  • Whelks
  • Topshells
  • Snakelocks anemones
  • Burrowing anemones
  • Dead Man’s Fingers
  • Sea orange sponge
  • Boring sponge
  • Gravel sea cucumbers
  • Eyelash worms

Dive Profile

  • Maximum depth: 6.4m
  • Duration: 52 minutes

Dive 2 — The Cove

The second dive explored the right-hand side of the beach, focusing on the rocky gullies within the cove.

Navigation was helped by following a line of lobster pots running parallel to the shore — a tactic that proved particularly effective. The surrounding area appeared rich in marine life, likely benefiting from the nearby pots and varied terrain.

Highlights included:

  • Several lobsters
  • An octopus
  • A variety of sponge species
  • A brief sighting of a seahorse

Evening

After a full day of diving, the group headed to Saltwater Fish & Chips in Torquay for dinner, enjoying freshly cooked fish and the restaurant’s famously bottomless chips.

Day 2 — Babbacombe Beach

The group reconvened at 09:00 before making the short drive to Babbacombe Beach. As with the previous day, divers entered the water in staggered waves to maintain safe and effective shore cover.

Dive 1 — Search for Mushroom Rock

The objective for the first dive was to locate the well-known “Mushroom Rock.” The planned route involved heading north towards the drop-off before turning east.

Despite careful navigation, the landmark remained elusive — largely due to visibility dropping below one metre at times.

Even so, the dive still produced an enjoyable encounter with a pair of cuttlefish.

Dive Profile

  • Maximum depth: 8.2m
  • Duration: 53 minutes

Dive 2 — Boulder Fields & Pier

A second attempt to locate Mushroom Rock was abandoned early, with the dive instead focusing on the nearby boulder fields where visibility had improved to approximately four metres.

The dive concluded with a brief exploration around the pier and breakwater area, where extra caution was needed due to active fishing lines. The team exited safely via the pier steps.

Although enjoyable, Babbacombe offered noticeably less marine life than Brixham during this particular weekend.

Key Takeaways & Tips

Babbacombe Access: The road down to the beach is steep and uneven, so extra care is advised, especially in wet weather.

Parking: Both sites have relatively small car parks which fill quickly, particularly at weekends — arriving early is recommended.

Tides: Diving on neap tides provided greater flexibility and manageable conditions.

Shelter: Both locations offer good shelter depending on wind direction.

Photos by Ben Samson & Jamie Vaughan