Smugglers Cove

User Rating: 4 / 5

Smugglers cove1a

Alternative Names: Parson and Clerk rocks,

Type of Dive: Shore dive with plenty of life and some tight swim-throughs.

Suggested Experience: Novice

Travel directions: From Exeter head south on the A379 all the way through Dawlish into Holcombe. Just 10m past the last bus stop as you are leaving Holcombe, turn left into Smugglers lane and drive to the end.

Parking directions: Parking can be a problem here if its busy as there is not a lot of space. There is parking in Hall lane but it is a long way from the beach.

Lat & Long: 50.561644, -3.474001 Postcode EX7 0JL Google

Tides: Tide tables

Depth: 10m

Site entry/exit: Kit up and walk down Smugglers lane under the railway up and down some steps to the beach and to the far left facing the sea.

Smugglers Lane Smugglers cove entry/exit

Underwater directions: Heading north keep to the shoreline at your chosen depth and shag rock (The stack seen from the shore) is 250m from the entry and the swim-throughs at Parson and Clerk rocks,(further round the Holcombe headland) are 350-400m which takes 10-15 mins to get there. If you dive 60m to the south of the lane there are small finger reefs heading out from the shore.

Air & Nitrox: Teign diving centre

Site Hazards: No major hazards here.

Nearest Public phone: Contact me

Mobile Network service:

Accommodation:

Other comments: There are toilets at the bottom of the hill near the Railway bridge. Shag Rock, lost most of its height in a storm in 1984 and then lost its "head" in a storm in January 2003. Between Shag Rock and the Parson and Clerk are the caves used by smugglers.

Pub: Smugglers Inn The Castle Inn

Cafe: Salty dog Kiosks

Smugglers cove