England

United Kingdom

A shallow kelp forest starts just out from the concrete structure and carries on round the rocks to the north. Lots of seabed life including various species of starfish and spider crabs. DSMB's should be used due to boat traffic during the week.

Easy entry from the stoney beach. Parking is allowed on the beach, so you can kit up very near the site. Keep to the north (left) side of the bay due to boat traffic.

Porthoustock

A separate dive used mostly for training on the flat stony bottom. Can be dived independently or on the way back to the beach from a dive at Drawna Rock. Kelp grows on the right of the site near the rocks. This area can be explored at the end of a training dive to look for starfish and sea urchins. 

Porthkerris. Easy entry via the stoney beach. Entrance to the site cost per diver.

Porthkerris Fish Bowl

The seaward side of Drawna Rock contains the deepest part of the site, reaching to 18 metres at high tide. A kelp reef with good walls and cracks to explore in the rocks. When the current is strong, you can drift between the two rocks and swim back on the seaward side. Lots of life including wrasse and starfish.

Enter by the beach or from a boat for a second dive. Charges per diver apply to use the beach. Air can be filled on site.

Drawna Rock is also known as Porthkerris.

Drawna Rock

The Volnay sank in December 1917 after hitting and mine, but was able to move close to land before sinking completely. Two large boilers are located midship, with a smaller third boiler to the North. Some damage where the mine hit, but most of the ribs are still intact and useful for navigation. Several large fish, crabs and a conger eel can be found amongst the wreckage.
The wreck is quite flat due to attempts to blow up it's cargo of anti personel shells, the shells still turn up but you have to dig for them.

By boat from various launch sites including Porthkerris or Falmouth. The two large boilers can be used to place a shot line.

Volnay

The outermost point of 'the Manacles' rises from a sandy bottom 42 m below. The water is quite (by UK standards), and the scenarie + life is astounding.
By far my best dive in the UK!

Because the Manacles lie in the English Channel, the correct timing with the tide is essential.

Don't try this dive without a delaid SMB!!!
The temperature was 12 deg. C in April, so a drysuit is recommended! 

The Manacles, Cornwall.
Launch a boat from Porthkerris Beach or by a dive package at a local dive shop.


Raglan Reef is also known as The Manacles.

Raglan Reef

The wreck of the SS Mohegan. A 7,000 ton steamship that sank on the 14th October 1898. After losing her rudder on the Vase Rock, she slammed into The Voices Rocks in the heart of the Manacles, with the loss of 107 lives. This dive is at a depth of between 15 and 29 metres and has visibility of about 5 metres.




SS Mohegan is also known as The Mohegan.

SS Mohegan

Use Porthkerris Divers boats to get you on this site. Best dived on an incoming tide, drift up the river mouth with the current, Dogfish, Thornback Rays, Sea Hares and loads of stuff everywhere. Brilliant!!!!!!!!
Do not take any scallops, the Helford River is a private fishery, taking scallops is theft.

Accessed by boats from Falmouth or Porthkerris.

Helford River

The wreck can actually be seen in the Google maps image above, at low tide you can walk around it. A bit of a swim but very interesting once you're there. A 422 ton fishing trawler that came ashore in the 1970's.

Maenporth beach is at the southern end of Falmouths beaches. Car park is on the beach. Enter on the north side and follow the reef. It is a long swim out to the wreck, in fairly shallow water but it is an easy dive.

Maenporth Beach is also known as Ben Asdale.

Maenporth Beach

South reef slightly deeper with more life, north reef shallower but there is an open arch to swim through at high water.

A very easy shore dive.

Very easy access, park in the carpark for just £2 and get a free cup of tea! You can't miss the sea :)

Swanpool Beach



Park behind the gardens at Gyllyngvase Beach and make your way around to the south end of the beach. The Ponus wreck is on the southern reef about 70m from shore. You have to cross the reef or swim around it to get to the wreck.

Gyllyngvase Beach is also known as Ponus wreck.

Gyllyngvase Beach

The first gully contains the remains of a German WWI U-Boat, the UB97. There is not a lot left but it is noticeable by a large '3 pronged fork', most of the wreck is quite flat.

The second gully has the remains of UB86. There is quite a lot left of this wreck and it stands 3m high at the highest point, it can be spotted in 2 of the photos on this page. Spend some time here looking under the kelp, it is quite big and full of life.

The third gully has a narrow and very scenic route, it winds it way quite shallow before it stops about 6m into a tiny cave.

Drive around Pendennis Point along Castle Drive. Go past the car park at the point about 400m and park in the layby. To the left of the layby there is a path, the path splits in two, take the right hand path down the Silver Steps. Entry is best at high tide, low water entry is tricky and not recommended. There are quite a few for the return journey, the handrail is not as strong as it used to be.

Pendennis Point is also known as Silver Steps.

Porthoustock

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Porthoustock