Day 8 – Newry Beach, Holyhead Harbour

9th November

We left our campsite this morning and made our way to Newry Beach, tucked inside Holyhead Harbour, ready for our very first shore dive of The Great Scuba Drive. The rain was hammering down, bouncing off the road as we drove, one of those typical UK journeys where even the windscreen wipers can’t quite keep up. Despite the weather, we were excited to reach the site and get into the water.

It was a real treat to meet up with our friend and colleague Mia, who kindly joined us to provide shore cover. Mia completed her Divemaster internship at Porthkerris over the summer, so it was lovely to catch up with her again. This time swapping the Cornish sunshine for a rather soggy Welsh welcome!

After the familiar routine of changing in the car, we headed down to the beach. Newry Beach turned out to be a perfect choice for the day as it was sheltered and calm despite the wild weather. Out in the distance, we could see huge waves crashing against the harbour walls, a reminder of just how fierce the conditions were. The visibility wasn’t ideal after a few days of unsettled weather, but interestingly, this was the warmest water temperature we’ve had so far on the trip, a balmy 14 °C.

As we waded in, an inquisitive seal appeared, bobbing in the shallows to check us out before disappearing beneath the surface. Always such a joy to see these playful creatures. Once underwater, the site proved to be easy and enjoyable, a shallow dive that’s simple to navigate without a guide and ideal for days when the sea’s too rough elsewhere.

The seabed was mostly sandy with patches of rock and gentle clusters of kelp. Hidden among the stones were common shore crabs, brown crabs, and plenty of velvet swimming crabs, all busy going about their business. On the swim back towards the shore after about an hour underwater, we had a real highlight, a catshark chilling on the seabed, followed by two more not long after. It was a fantastic to see.

We also came across dozens of king scallops resting on the sediment, some so large they could have doubled as hats! You could actually see little puffs of sand where they snapped shut, leaving trails of movement across the seabed. It was oddly mesmerising to watch.

For a day when the weather was grim and the visibility uncertain, Newry Beach proved to be an excellent choice. It’s a calm, life-filled site that’s perfect for a quick, easy dive and a great reminder that even the simplest spots can offer wonderful surprises. The only thing missing was a well-earned hot chocolate at the end of the dive.