Surfing and diving in Cornwall
June 29, 2009 by Helen Page
Filed under Featured, Sightseeing
Surfing and Diving in Cornwall:
Bodysurfing the giant waves, Cornwall
Cornwall is fast being recognised as one of the premier surfing and diving locations within the UK. This is due to the multiple of good beach resorts such as Newquay, Bude and Perranporth to name a few.
Cornwall also has a huge stretch of coastline, more so than along any other part of England. This means that Cornwall as a diving location has naturally evolved, and now offers excellent prospects for those wanting to surf as well as do some diving in Cornwall.
Diving in Cornwall
Diving facilities within Cornwall are first class. There are several B.S.A.C clubs littered all around Cornwall. You can learn to dive at one of their many dive schools. The following locations all have major dive operators present:
- St Ives
- Hayle
- Looe
- Falmouth
- Penzance
- St Keverne
Dive boats are also available, notably in Newquay.
The months of July to October are by far the best months to go diving. It’s possible to see sharks, whales and dolphins during these peak times. Despite this, a lot of surfing still takes place between October to June (low season) where the temperature can vary from 6 to 17 degrees.
Surfing in Corwall
Newquay is also highly popular with surfers – in fact Newquay Fistral and Watergate Bay hold surfing championships each year, where surfers from all corners of the globe come to participate. Following are some of the competitions that bring local and overseas surfers to the area in summer:
- English National Surfing Championships
- BLU Midsummer Classic
- Extreme Academy Midsummer Classic Surf Competition
- UK Surf Rowers League Summer Series
- Surf Relief UK Festivals
It’s possible to hire out surfing equipment as required including boards and wetsuits. Novice surfers can head to Towan or Tolcarne as the beaches here are somewhat more sheltered and allow a safer place for amateurs and beginners to practice their surfing. Local surf schools provide tuition and it’s also possible to book Cornwall surfing holidays or join surfing camps if you intend to spend a lot of time on the board!
There are accommodation to cater for all styles and budgets in Cornwall, making this an attractive dive and surf destination, not to mention the good food and great pubs and fantastic scenery.
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