Wreck or reef .... take your pick

The wide variety of sites available locally means that it's not difficult to find something new. For many the main attraction is the abundance of wrecks which litter the local coastline, in a variety of depths to suit most experience levels. The local diving also includes some of the most spectacular reef diving to be found in the UK. With water temperature up to a pleasant 17·C in the summer and average visibility better than most other parts of the UK - Cornwall invites you!

South Coast Dive Sites

Spectacular reefs...

The Runnelstone - one of the UK's finest dive sites. Situated 1 mile offshore with rocks rising up to just a few metres below the surface Runnelstone is the last resting place of many ships. Diving Runnelstone is akin to swimming through massive tower blocks with not a square inch of rock that isn't smothered in anemones of one kind or other. As you drift along it is not uncommon to come across anchors, boilers, propellers and other wreckage with the only drawback of the site being which direction to liik in so as not to miss anything. Drift diving 18-40m.

Loguns Gully - A baby Runnelstone. A steep sided gully just 1m wide at its narrowest with walls towering above you up to the surface from depths of 18m. The walls of the gully provide a home for thousands of Plumose and Dahlia anemones. Cuttlefish are often encountered here. Usually dived as a drift depths 18-21m.

Wrecks to suit every taste

Heliopes - This Schooner rigged steamship which sank in 1911 provides us with one of our deepest and most intact wrecks. Heading forward from the easily recognisable stern with its massive propellor you will find row upon row of Seafans leading you to the two huge boilers. With depth restricting dive time you will want to return to this wreck time and time again. Heliopes can be dived at all states of the tied. Depths 34-38m.

Alice Marie - A victim of the Runnelstone this French steel barque finally came to rest in Mounts Bay in 1928. Surrounded by sand this wreck has become the home of a wide variety of marine life. Plumose anemones now inhabit the ribs of the wreck alongside delicate seafans with lobsters and congers often seen hiding under the platework. Can be dived at all states of the tide with depths varying between 23-27m.

The Conqueror - A modern Freezer Trawler which ran aground on Boxing Day 1977 with a cargo of frozen Mackerel. The Conqueror now provides us with our most intact shallow wreck, a popular site for all experience levels with plenty of wreckage to explore. Although this is quite a new wreck it has already become the home of many marine organisms. Jewel anemones and Red Fingers are amongst the many forms of life that can be seen here. Depths 10-22m.

Lamorna Cove - Probably the most accessible of shore dives with car parking right at the water's edge. This beautiful cove offers safe easy diving from the shore as well as being a useful base for boat trips to more distant sites. The cove has no currents thought with a little groundsea the surge can add fun to moving around underwater. There are lots of fish to observe as well as Cuttlefish and Pipefish. Depths of up to 20m can be reached by venturing to the centre of the cove.

North Coast Dive Sites

Wrecks from the wars and before ...

The Nile - One of the earliest propeller driven Steamships, the Nile ran aground on the Stones reef and sank in 1854. This is one of our oldest wrecks and provides an excellent site for both wreckies and photographers alike. From the propeller, follow the propshaft forward past the engine where the spare propellor can be found amidships. A really pretty dive with life encrusting the entire wreck and frequent sighting of Butterfish. Lies in 24-28m and is a slack water dive.

The Barge - A bit of a mystery wreck with little information available on when or how it sank. What we do know is that it was a dumb barge (having no self propulsion) with a large steam powered winch and lifting gear which are still recognisable. This wreck provides a home for several "friendly" conger eels who are often seen out and about, other inhabitants include many Tompot Blennies, Dogfish and it's own shoal of Bib. A slack water dive in 19-25m.

The Zone - A casualty of the First World War the Zone was a large steamship of some 360ft in length and almost 4000 tonnes she was torpedoed and sunk in 1917 and today provides us with one of our most intact North coast wrecks. The three large boilers with resident congers and the propeller shaft still on its stands, are often surrounded by a large shoal of Bib. An excellent dive site to which you will want to return time and time again. As with most dives on the North coast the Zone can only be dived at slack water, depth 28-32m.

Marine life havens

Seal Island - As the name suggests this island is the home of many Atlantic Grey Seals which can be seen from the boat watching you watching them. Although very timid there is always the chance of an encounter with one of these beautiful creatures underwater (ask to see the photographs). The site has plenty of other attractions to offer with a large gully being the home to an abundance of marine life. Sightings include Angler Fish, Dogfish, Tompot Blenny as well as a glorious array of anemones. This site can be dived at all states of the tide though caution and a little local knowledge about the currents in the area makes for a safer dive. Depths 8-22m.

Porthminster Reef - A shallow site 2 minutes from St Ives harbour. This site is a favourite with many of our regular divers who ask to return again and again. There is such a diversity of marine life on this reef you never know what your are going to see next. Sightings include Dolphins, Trigger Fish, Sunfish, John Dory, Dogfish, Lobsters, Crabs and much, much more. Can be dived t all states of the tide with depths varying between 7-18m.