The Smalls Reef
Wales (Pembrokeshire) · United Kingdom
The Smalls Reef lies 22 km offshore in the Irish Sea, a remote chain of rocky ledges marked by a historic lighthouse and swept by the open Atlantic swell that brings pelagic species rarely seen closer to shore. Blue sharks arrive in summer following warm current intrusions and are frequently encountered mid-water by divers making the offshore passage. Sunfish, common dolphin, and occasional thresher sharks round out a pelagic species list that distinguishes The Smalls from all other Welsh dive sites.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
8 to 15 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 18°C
7mm wetsuit
Your chances of seeing each animal
Conger EelLeast concern
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Blue Shark
Rare
Now and then
Ocean SunfishVulnerable
Rare
Now and then
Common DolphinLeast concern
Rare
Now and then
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