Diving in Cornwall

Cornwall's coastline holds one of the densest concentrations of shipwrecks in Britain, alongside reef, cave and wall diving from Whitsand Bay in the east to the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles beyond Land's End. Conditions vary hugely by coast and season: the north coast is more exposed to Atlantic swell, while Falmouth Bay, the Lizard and the Isles of Scilly generally offer more sheltered, longer diving seasons. Visibility can exceed 20 metres in calm summer conditions, though cold-water gear is needed year-round, with sea temperatures typically ranging from around 8°C in winter to 17°C at the height of summer.

The stretch of coast around Falmouth and the Lizard Peninsula is the most consistently diveable part of Cornwall, and it's no accident that most of the county's dive centres are based here. Falmouth Bay and Carrick Roads offer sheltered water close to launch sites, while the Manacles — a square mile of reef off St Keverne — is one of the richest wreck sites in the country, with well over a hundred recorded losses including the liner SS Mohegan. Further round the peninsula, Porthleven and Gunwalloe Cove give access to shallower wreck and cannon sites in Mounts Bay, many linked to 18th and 19th century losses still visible in the shallows.

East of Falmouth, the coast towards Whitsand Bay and the Plymouth approaches is where Cornwall's best-known deliberate wreck lies: HMS Scylla, a former Royal Navy frigate sunk in 2004 to create Europe's first purpose-built artificial reef, now home to more than 250 recorded species. Nearby, the Liberty ship James Eagan Layne remains one of the most-dived wrecks in British waters. Between Fowey, Looe and Whitsand Bay, divers also find reef diving and shallower wreck sites reachable from harbours such as Fowey and Charlestown, with Charlestown's Shipwreck Centre a good bad-weather alternative when the sea is uncooperative.

Cornwall's north coast, running from Bude down through Tintagel, Padstow and Newquay to Perranporth, is a wilder and more weather-dependent proposition, but rewards divers with dramatic cliffs, sea caves and an estimated 1,000 recorded wrecks within five miles of the shore. Newquay has become established as a base for charter-boat diving on this coast, while the sheltered Camel Estuary at Padstow offers a reliable launch point when swell rules out the more exposed headlands. Strong tidal streams and limited shelter mean the north coast suits divers with a boat operator who knows the local conditions, rather than casual shore diving.

West of Penzance, the coastline toward Land's End and out to the Isles of Scilly is arguably Cornwall's most spectacular diving. Sites such as the Runnelstone Reef off Gwennap Head combine strong tidal streams with a stack of intermingled historic wrecks, while sheltered coves like Lamorna offer easy shore diving and snorkelling for less experienced divers. Furthest out, the granite reefs and gullies of the Isles of Scilly regularly offer visibility beyond 20 metres, resident grey seals, and some of the best-preserved historic wrecks anywhere in the UK — a genuine bucket-list destination for wreck divers willing to make the crossing.

Dive Centres, Schools & Charter Boats

Business details believed correct at time of writing — please confirm opening hours, pricing and current course availability directly with each operator before travelling.

Notable Dive Sites

Map

Frequently Asked Questions