Castlemartin, Wales, United Kingdom

Stack Rocks

Stack Rocks, also known as the Elegug Stacks, are two prominent limestone sea stacks just off the south Pembrokeshire coast in the Castlemartin Range area. The underwater topography continues the dramatic nature of the cliffs above, with sheer rock walls, gullies and caverns dropping into 15 to 20 metres of water onto a clean rock and sand bottom. The site is sheltered from prevailing south westerlies and is one of the more reliable Pembrokeshire south coast dives. The walls are blanketed with jewel anemones, plumose anemones, dead man's fingers, sponges, hydroids and kelp on the upper rim. Resident species include ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse, corkwing wrasse, pollack, bib, conger eels, tompot blennies, lobsters and edible crabs. Atlantic grey seals frequent the stacks and often approach divers, especially in autumn. Visibility commonly reaches 6 to 12 metres in summer and water temperature ranges from 9 to 16 degrees Celsius. Currents are moderate. Charter boats run from Tenby and Stackpole Quay subject to military firing range schedules.