Selsey East Beach
During the summer months, you'll find bootlace weed flourishing here, providing a safe haven for small fry and fish. Keep an eye out for rays and cat-sharks resting on the sandy bottom, and if you're lucky, you might spot seahorses too.
Located at the shallower end of Selsey beach, this dive spot is not much further east. Some moorings may dry out at low water due to the presence of a sandbank. It's an ideal location for divers of all levels to check their weighting before heading out for a boat dive. You can also use this spot for practicing shallow water buoyancy control, snorkeling, and freediving. The easy access to the car park makes it convenient for starting or finishing a drift dive along the beach. For those seeking greater depth, swim out to the outer line of boats.
The current is strongest from 2 hours before to 2 hours after high tide. Although this dive site is exposed to easterly and southerly winds, it remains relatively sheltered during prevailing southwest winds.
Dive Site Details:
- Visibility: Expect a visibility of around 3 meters.
- Maximum Depth: The maximum depth here is approximately 9 meters.
- Recommended Diver Level: This dive site is suitable for beginners.
- Location: East Beach Road, East Beach, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex, South East England, England, PO20 0ER, United Kingdom.
Diving Conditions Score for Selsey East Beach
Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Selsey East Beach
Depth
9m
Visibility
3m
Experience Level
Weather Conditions for Selsey East Beach
Wave Height
0.4m
Wind Speed
9.4 m/s
Water Temp
16.7°C
Visibility
20.9km
Cloud Cover
100%
Wave Period
6.45s
Air Temperature
17.6°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Dive Score Chart for Selsey East Beach
Best time to dive: 12:00 with score 7.743076923076923/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.4m, Wind 7.6 m/s.Best night dive time: 18:00 with score 7.649291542288558/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Optimal diving conditions at Selsey East Beach 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: 7.7/10
Waves: 0.4m (6.5s), Wind: 7.6 m/s
Score: 7.5/10
Waves: 0.36m (6.65s), Wind: 3.2 m/s
Score: 7.6/10
Waves: 0.34m, Wind: 5 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Selsey East BeachAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Selsey East Beach
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 Selsey East Beach
Winter
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Selsey East Beach
Ideal Conditions for Selsey East Beach
Water Temp
18.8°C / 65.8°F
July
Visibility
15.2m / 49.9ft
January
Wave Height
0.9m / 3.0ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Selsey East Beach
Selsey East Beach shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with July being the warmest month (18.8°C) and December the coldest (1.7°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.9m 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 18, 2026