Cold-water wrecks, tidal reefs, kelp coves, and mountain horizons on the Irish Sea
Overview
Anglesey and North Wales reward divers who enjoy planning as much as immersion. Sheltered shore entries such as Newry Beach, Trearddur Bay, Porth Dafarch, and Porth Ysgaden support training and relaxed kelp-and-rock exploration, while boat charters open a wreck-rich coast led by SS Missouri and more demanding tidal reefs. The Menai Strait is the destination's sharpest contrast: biologically rich, shallow, and potentially hazardous because currents can reach about 13 km/h. It belongs on a locally timed neap-slack plan, not a casual shore-diving list. Water is cold, visibility changes quickly, and wind direction often decides which coast works. In return, travelers get temperate marine life, maritime archaeology, seagrass meadows, Welsh-language communities, and exceptional non-diver days at South Stack, Llanddwyn, Beaumaris, and Eryri. Most trips are land-based, self-drive, and operator- or club-supported rather than liveaboard itineraries.
One land-based itinerary can combine novice-friendly coves, kelp-and-rock shore dives, boat wrecks, tidal reefs, and an operator-managed inland quarry.
Local teams choose sites by wind, swell, tide, and access. Sheltered Holyhead Harbour or a different coast can preserve a dive day when exposed west-coast water is unsuitable.
Top species linked to approved dive spots in Anglesey and North Wales.
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Quick shortlist before you jump into the full planning page.
Sheltered North Wales cove for shallow shore dives and snorkeling.
DiveJourney destination guides are living documents built from local knowledge, operator experience, and publicly available sources. Conditions, regulations, and logistics can change. Each guide shows its last update date and sources used.
Last updated: September 4, 2026 • 39 sources
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Current-fed Menai reefs, kelp margins, harbour structure, and seagrass support sponges, anemones, crustaceans, wrasse, conger eels, nudibranchs, lobsters, and occasional octopus.
Anglesey's wreck-rich coast offers approachable and advanced objectives, backed by clear Welsh heritage rules on protected sites and recovered material.
3 linked spots
Best time to go
May to September
Longest practical daylight, fuller visitor services, and the strongest balance across diving, snorkeling, wildlife, and walking
Main caution: Shorter daylight and more frequent disruption favor local training, sheltered water, and flexible inland or heritage days
