Marine species

There is a rich abundance and diversity of life beneath the waves in and around Plymouth Sound. There are all manner of colourful creatures leading bizarre lifestyles to be discovered including sponges, worms, jellyfish, corals, anemones, molluscs, crabs and star fish.

The Sound and its estuaries are a European Marine Site where bottle-nosed dolphins and basking sharks are occasionally spotted. Beneath the waves, the Sound is home to both the spiny seahorse and the short-snouted seahorse which reside amongst eelgrass beds. Pink sea fan, one of the UK's most endangered soft corals, can be found amongst rocky reefs.

Further offshore, Plymouth is well known for its fantastic variety of dive sites whether they be on reefs or wrecks. Explore the species in the left hand menu for a taster of what lies beneath the waves.

Wembury Marine Centre

Wembury lies just beyond the boundaries of Plymouth in the South Hams. Wembury and the surrounding coastline form a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Wembury Marine Centre is the ideal place to learn about the surrounding area and its wildlife through interactive displays, aquaria and regular rockpool rambles.

Photo credit: Keith Hiscock