When is the best time to dive Lundy Island?

The best months to dive Lundy Island are June, July, August, September, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Lundy Island?

Lundy Island requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically moderate and the maximum depth reaches 30 m.

How much does it cost to dive Lundy Island?

A 2-tank dive at Lundy Island averages around $80 USD. The destination is in our mid range tier.

What will I see diving Lundy Island?

Lundy Island is known for octopus, cuttlefish, seal, lobster, with 5–15 m visibility and 9–17°C water temperatures.

Why does Lundy Island score 51.9/100 on OkToDive?

Lundy Island earns a 51.9/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 40 operator reviews.

Lundy Island Diving — Score: 51.9/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Intermediate

Lundy Island

United KingdomAtlantic

51.9

SCORE

51.1700°N

-4.6700°E

Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel was England's first Marine Conservation Zone, and decades of protection have created some of the best temperate diving in the UK. Grey seals are playfully curious, the walls are covered in Devonshire cup corals and sea fans, and the wrecks provide excellent macro photography.

England's Only Marine Conservation Zone

Visibility5–15 m

Temperature9–17°C

Max Depth30 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$80

Best MonthsJune, July, August, September

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

47.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine Life Diversity

47.0

Coral & Reef Health

27.0

Visibility & Conditions

53.0

Dive Site Variety

38.0

Water Temperature

42.0

Depth & Access

56.0

Operator Quality

73.0

Topside Experience

60.0

Getting There

68.0

Value & Cost

58.0

Crowding

57.0

Social Proof

57.0

Key Species

octopus cuttlefish seal lobster

Dive Types

wreckpelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

puffin watching (Apr-Jul)island hiking trailsrock climbingMarisco Castle ruinsseal spotting

Nearby Cultural Sites

Marisco Castle (13th century)
Lundy Old Light lighthouse
St. Helena's Church

Non-Diver Partner Score

5/10

Limited topside — plan ahead for non-diving partners.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifebasic

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber80 km — DDRC Healthcare Hyperbaric Unit, Plymouth

Nearest Hospital40 km

No medical facility on island; boat to Bideford/Ilfracombe (2 hrs); helicopter available; chamber in Plymouth

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Ilfracombe & North Devon Sub-Aqua Club

BSAC

4.5

40 reviews

Compare This Dive Site

Current conditions

8/10Excellent

Waves2.04 m

Swell2.04 m

Wind12.2 km/h

Air7.9°C

OvercastModerate waves (2.04m)

9d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

55+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Open Water + Drysuit specialty

“England's best marine encounter. Grey seals that play with divers like underwater puppies in a marine reserve.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Cold water — 9°C at the coldest. Drysuit recommended; wetsuit divers will be genuinely cold past 30 minutes.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Cold (10-15°C), variable viz, and Bristol Channel crossing can be rough.

What will surprise you

→Short dive season — only 4 months worth going (June, July, August, September). Book well ahead or miss it.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: Jun-Sep. Crossing from Ilfracombe can be rough. Check forecast..

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
light

grey seal encounters
kelp forests
wide angle

England's only marine reserve. Grey seals are outrageously playful. Morning east side when seals are most active. They'll chew your fins.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

wreck dives
reef walls
nudibranchs

Wrecks around the island in 15-25m. Afternoon on the sheltered side.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	6–9	10	Mod	Rough	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Feb	6–9	9	Mod	Rough	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Mar	6–10	10	Mod	Rough	Wet	55%	conditions vary
Apr	7–11	11	Mod	Mod	Light	65%	conditions vary
May	7–12	13	Mod	Chop	Light	78%	conditions vary
Jun	7–13	15	Mod	Chop	Light	88%	conditions vary
Jul	8–15	16	Mod	Chop	Light	88%	conditions vary
Aug	8–15	17	Mod	Chop	Light	88%	conditions vary
Sep	8–14	16	Mod	Chop	Light	88%	conditions vary
Oct	7–12	15	Mod	Mod	Wet	78%	conditions vary
Nov	6–10	13	Mod	Rough	Wet	65%	conditions vary
Dec	6–9	11	Mod	Rough	Wet	55%	conditions vary

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects33

Wide angle55

Viz stability76

Hover friendliness70

Natural light45

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone
→Cold-water housing — condensation is a real issue below 18°C, bring silica packs

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Seal interaction etiquette
foundational
Grey seals are playful but powerful.
UK diving fundamentals
intermediate
Cold water, drysuits, short viz.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,650–$2,450

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $540–$660
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $70–$80
Food / day: $30–$55
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$2,700–$4,200

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $810–$990
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $80–$100
Food / day: $60–$120
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$4,850–$8,050

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,350–$1,650
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $100–$140
Food / day: $130–$250
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Lundy Island Diving — United Kingdom