Plymouth (August Bank Holiday 2025) Trip Report

Over the August bank holiday weekend, our dive club headed down to Plymouth for a long weekend of diving. The boats were towed down and launched from the Mount Batten Centre, and we based ourselves at a hotel just a five-minute walk away, complete with sea views.

The weather was glorious all weekend. Blue skies, warm sunshine, and for the first couple of days, barely a ripple on the sea. It felt more Mediterranean than south coast! While no one was complaining, the heat was definitely noticeable in our drysuits.

We kicked things off on Friday with a check-out dive at Hilsea Point. It was a relaxed start to the trip with great visibility, calm conditions, and a cuttlefish sighting that set the tone nicely.

Getting ready to dive in

Dinner that evening was at the Clovelly Bay Inn, a firm club favourite. The food was excellent and the portions enormous. The pork belly alone could have fed half the table! A great way to wrap up day one.

Saturday saw us heading out to the spectacular Hand Deeps. The sea was like a millpond, and the site truly delivered. Vertical walls absolutely coated in colourful jewel anemones made for a stunning, photogenic dive. Gigantic Tompot blennies and other inquisitive fish were out in force.

Tompot blennie posing for the camera

In the afternoon, we dived the wreck of the Persier, another fantastic dive. Crayfish were everywhere, tucked into every crevice, and the wreck was teeming with life. It kept everyone exploring right up to the end of the dive.

Down we go

Dinner was once again at the Clovelly Bay Inn. Some very happy divers well ‘hydrated’ and with VERY full bellies by the end of the evening.

On Sunday, our first dive was on HMS Scylla, the well-known artificial reef. Despite sharing the site with several other groups, there was plenty of space and plenty to see. A cuttlefish was spotted near the bow, and an octopus made a star appearance from a porthole. It’s amazing how much life it has got on it.

Octopus!

That afternoon, we visited the wreck of the Rosehill. The wreck has a lot less colour, giving the dive a more muted, moody feel, but the wreck still captivated. The standout feature was the large boilers, and once again crayfish were everywhere. Deco time came around quicker than expected.

Moored up at the Mountbatten Centre

That evening, we switched things up and dined at the Mountbatten Hotel. It was busy and buzzing, but the food was hearty and conversation was flowing. We wrapped up the evening with a stunning sunset over the water.

Monday, our final dive day, took us to the Mewston ledgese, a rocky reef that delivered a perfect last dive. Two cuttlefish, another octopus, lots of lobster and crabs. It was a great end to the trip before packing up the boats and hitting the road.

As always, trips like this don’t happen on their own. Huge thanks go to our dive manager, who pulled everything together behind the scenes, as well as to our skilled boat handlers and generous tower volunteers and for those who helped put the boats to bed of an evening. Their time, effort, and experience are what allow the rest of us to enjoy weekends like this and we’re incredibly grateful.

All in all, it was a brilliant few days of diving, sunshine, hearty meals, and great company. Plymouth delivered once again, and we’ll definitely be back.

Are we nearly there yet?