Devon dive sites

Most divers visit Lundy by chartering a dive boat from Ilfracombe or Bideford on the North Devon coast. The crossing takes approximately 2 hours depending on conditions. Hard boat charter is the standard approach, with several operators running regular trips during the diving season. The island also has a passenger ferry service from Ilfracombe and Bideford, but bringing dive equipment on the ferry is impractical for most. Some dive clubs organize camping trips on the island, though logistical planning is required.

Jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis) are small, brightly colored anemones that grow in dense colonies on rocky surfaces. They come in an extraordinary range of colors including vivid green, pink, orange, red, and purple, often with contrasting-colored tentacle tips. At Lundy, they carpet walls, overhangs, and crevices in such density that the effect resembles a coral reef made of gemstones. The protected waters of the Marine Conservation Zone have allowed these colonies to flourish to a degree rarely seen elsewhere in British waters.

Grey seals are present around Lundy year-round, but the most interactive encounters typically occur from June to October when the seals are most curious and approachable in the water. The eastern coast of the island, particularly around the Landing Bay and Rat Island areas, offers the most reliable seal encounters. Young seals are especially playful and will often approach divers closely, tugging on fins and investigating equipment. The autumn pupping season from October to December sees increased seal activity but may require more careful approach distances.