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Stack Rocks - United Kingdom


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Stack Rocks is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Stack Rocks, West Wales, United Kingdom. The maximum depth is 91-100ft/28-30m. The average visibility is 21-25ft/6-8m.

Stack Rocks
Tide flows east LW plus 45 mins for 3 hours and then west LW plus 3 hrs 45 mins for 9 hours.
Launch out of Little Haven or Broad Haven. About twenty minutes away SW are the rocks, Stacks and the Hen & Chicks. Stacks are the larger and the furthest out to sea. These rocks contain some of the prettiest diving in the area, and are the most frequently dived areas around here. Seals are often seen around the rocks.







These rocks are also home to Trigger fish in the warmer months, very colorful fish blue and yellow.


Fish often seen are the Butterfish, colorful Wrasse, Pollack, Mackerel, Dogfish, and Cuckoo Wrasse. There are Spider Crabs, Squat Lobsters, Lobsters, Edible Crabs, Velvet Crabs, and the Hermit Crab. The rocks are abound with Dead Mans Fingers, Sea Urchins, Peacock Worms, Plumose Anemones of all colours, Jewel Anemone, Dahlia Anemone, Sea Fans.


The rocks head out westward from the Island, and average depth around 20 m. The reef drops down to sand where you will find Scallops. The best diving is to the North and West of the Island. Stack rocks are sheltered from the S S/W winds diving to the North. Completely sheltered from S, E and SE winds.


One of the most popular dives in Pembrokeshire, easy to get to, near to the coast, plenty to see, and one of the most beautiful areas around. Dive to the West of the rock. The south side is usually not good. The reef runs out from the rock to the west where it drops down to 30m.


A Divers Journey.


Where do you start with such variety, depths from 10m to 30m, all excellent diving; we hope to be able to buoy some areas this season to make life a little easier.
First start at the east end (13m) which is mostly sandy, the tide can run a bit here so stay close to the bottom and head for the rocks and kelp on the north side and work your way along westerly, here there is mostly boulders below the kelp line, plenty of fish life.
Half way along (16m) mainly Island coves and large boulders with openings between, here you might see the seals and many dogfish.
Move on westerly where small boulders shelve and then these a roof dropping out to your right out to about 20 m then onto the sand. You will see plenty of small sharks out here about four inches long as well as pipe fish, crabs, large lobsters at the end of the reef as it drops down to over 30m.
Work out further west where there are large boulders to your left and gullies through to the other side of the reef about 8-11 m. Here there are large voids in front of you, walls all around with loads of fish life. (Plenty of seals about)
If you go to the left (south) there are large and small gullies, here you will get a good run through with the swell, or go northish and down along the rock face to sand and the side of the reef, you are about 18-22m depending whether you are up or down on one of the many gullies. If you keep on there are loads of smaller bits and pieces off the main reef properly down to about 28 m now with steep inclines heading back up. There is plenty of life on the side of the reef, watch out if its running or you will be over the reef before you know it and playing in the sand on the other side. Just tuck in and keep low if this happens and work your way around between the gullies.
At the end of the reef there are really large gullies and separate pieces of the reef (30m), have a good look round, its really nice out here. I’ve found rose coral, sea fans on the overhangs and these plenty of the smaller stuff, nudibranchs, anemones, plumose and carpets of dead mans fingers. We have found out here the odd six foot shark! but it would not fit into the bag! You will find jewel anemones in abundance and enough fish to keep Harry Ramsdenns going forever.
If you travel up and over the top of the reef back easterly from the end, you will find large drop offs which seem to go forever. Work your way up to the top and you will find yourself at a large pinnacle which is covered in red jewel anemones which rises to within 9m of the surface. Just below you will see a slash in the rock and a long blue back fin from a large conger, there are many large congers on the reef, so watch your fingers when you put them down them holes.
You can dive stacks whether it blows north or south as you are usually sure of a lee side, go for depth if there is a big swell.
On the other side of the stacks, south facing (11m) you will find much the same at the start with more of a wall at the east end and a few small coves, or go along the kelp and boulders down to small rocks and shale, sometimes carpets of brittle stars.
Head out and the boulders get larger but fairly bare. There are quite a few lobsters and octopus around here as well as cuttlefish. (17m)
Going out further (20m) and you will find the side of the reef not quite as good as the other side, plenty of fish life. Have a wander to the end of the reef up and down the gullies and work you way to the end of the reef to about 30m.
You can dive here for a week and only see a part of the large reef as it seems to go on for ever, but be aware of the current especially on the springs.

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