Drake's Island
On the northern side of Drakes Island lies Asia Shoal, ranging from depths of 5 to 18 meters. Divers can admire a diverse array of marine life, including sponges, hydroids, burrowing anemones, as well as the occasional sighting of scallops and plaice. The visibility here is around 6 meters, making it an ideal spot for novice divers to explore.
Venturing to the southeast side of the island, divers will encounter Pilot Shoal, with depths ranging from 3 to 9 meters. The seabed is primarily composed of sand, dotted with rocky outcrops teeming with marine life such as sponges, hydroids, and burrowing anemones. This area offers similar visibility of around 6 meters.
Drakes Island is easily accessible from Drake's Island, Plymouth, in South West England. Whether you are a beginner diver seeking an immersive underwater experience or an avid enthusiast looking to explore the diverse marine ecosystem, Drakes Island offers an unforgettable diving adventure in the United Kingdom.
Diving Conditions Score for Drake's Island
Good diving conditions!
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Drake's Island
Depth
12m
Visibility
6m
Experience Level
Weather Conditions for Drake's Island
Wave Height
0.8m
Wind Speed
5.4 m/s
Water Temp
17.3°C
Visibility
52.48km
Cloud Cover
100%
Wave Period
4.15s
Air Temperature
26.2°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Dive Score Chart for Drake's Island
Best time to dive: 16:00 with score 8.41/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.8m, Wind 1.4 m/s.Best night dive time: 0:00 with score 7.549669966996699/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Optimal diving conditions at Drake's Island are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Score: 8.4/10
Waves: 0.8m (4.15s), Wind: 1.4 m/s
Score: 7.5/10
Waves: 0.48m, Wind: 9 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Drake's IslandAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Drake's Island
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Drake's Island
Winter
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Drake's Island
Ideal Conditions for Drake's Island
Water Temp
25.0°C / 77.0°F
June
Visibility
20.1m / 65.9ft
October
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Drake's Island
Drake's Island shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (25.0°C) and December the coldest (21.0°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.2m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 2026