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Channel
Islands diving consists mainly of wreck and reef diving.
There's a huge variety of marine life and plenty of wrecks around
these islands, many of which date from the World War II.
The Channel Islands being so far south are home
to many species which are rare or unknown to Britain's mainland.
Average water surface temperature: 18 - 20 °C
(64-68°F) during the summer months Warmest time:
April to August when there's also the least rainfall. Visibility
can reach 15 metres and is much better than many places in England.
Tidal ranges are very large here, divers must
be aware of this and seek local professional advice before planning
any dives.
The Channel Islands of Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey and
Sark are located in the English Channel between England
and France. Sark the smallest inhabited island,
enjoys the warmest sea temperatures in the British Isles. Diving
is possible from the islands or by embarking on a live-aboard
boat from south of England.
The rugged coastlines boast a large variety of marine life, reefs
and drop offs. You may encounter different types of wrasse,
pipefish, mullet, bass and pollock in the shallower waters. The
deeper water has rocks covered in jewel anemones, fan corals and
dead mens fingers. Inhabiting the wrecks are shoals of pouting,
orange cockoo wrasse and conger eels. Watch out for rays and dogfish
at the bottom. The waters around Sarks are very rich
in marine life.
Here you will find sea fans and soft coral and plenty of very
colourful jewel anemones. Also to be seen here is the rare and
fascinationg sunset coral cup as well as the cuckoo wrasse and
loads of nudibranches.
Many species rare on the British coastline are
found here because the islands are positioned far out in the south.
Some of the rare species are ormers, a kind of shellfish
only present in the Channel Islands. Little purple and
pink striped prawns are also found here. Encounters
with basking sharks have been reported in the summer
as well as dolphins, seahorses and trigger fish.
Channel Island diving is mainly done on Sarks, Jersey and Guernsey.
Sarks dive sites: The Guliot
passage which is a drift dive at about 10 m (33 feet). On this
dive divers should watch out for boat traffic as the passge gets
very busy.
Ecrillais Wall is made up of steep rocks with
deep gullies and has a depth of 16-50m (52-164 feet).
Les Vingt Clos Wall is a rock wall bordered by
reefs and gullies off the east coast. It's a beautiful dive with
the reefs covered in jewel anemones and soft corals. The depth
is 10-40 metres (33-131 feet) and good visibility is generally
recorded.
La Givaude Reef is composed of trenches and reef
on the west coast recording a depth of 8-35 metres (26-115 feet).
Gulleys and reef off the west coast.
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