Due to the bay being relatively sheltered from offshore winds it is often used as temporary anchorage point for boats,[2] including large cargo ships, before continuing east towards Continental Europe, or north towards The Solent.

[2] As a result of its sandy beach and good weather, Sandown and Shanklin grew rapidly in the Victorian era as tourists from across both the Island and the country came to enjoy the seaside thanks to new the transportation connections of the railway and paddle steamers.

The risk of cliff-failures affecting populated tourist areas led the Isle of Wight Council to commission a report and an extensive structural stabilisation programme in 1988.

[9] The bay itself has a seabed consisting of a mixture of sand, shells and gravel with shallow waters out till about one-quarter of a nautical mile (1,500 ft; 460 m).

[7] The economy of the bay is dominated by retail and hospitality sectors due to a large amount of tourism it receives, an estimate of 500,000 visitors annually.

The wreck of a salvage tug (the Harry Sharman) which assisted the stricken tanker Pacific Glory in 1970,[11] was visible for some decades at low tide below Culver Cliffs.