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
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 18°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Vis (m) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Razorbill
Last confirmed Jun 18, 2025 · 45 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Northern Gannet
Last confirmed Aug 30, 2025 · 9 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Common Murre
Last confirmed May 25, 2026 · 38 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Ocean Sunfish
Last confirmed Aug 30, 2025 · 1 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Common Dolphin
Last confirmed Aug 30, 2025 · 1 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Manx Shearwater
Last confirmed Jul 31, 2025 · 2 records
Rare
Now and then
Conger Eel
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Blue Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear