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Diving in Cornwall

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Company description Welcome to the Cornwall Online Internet Magazine. Within our pages, you will find everything you need to plan your holidays in Cornwall.
You can find a lot of information about dive sites, such as:
BUDE TO PERRANPORTH
Knap Head, at the north-east extremity of Cornwall, covers some 70 miles of high cliffs and remote rocky coves and headlands, broken only by a dozen sandy holiday beaches, which are largely unexplored - with large underwater areas little known, even to local divers. The cliffs rise to 325ft (100m), interrupted at Port Isaac, Porth Quinn, the Camel Estuary, Harlyn and Trevone Bays, Newquay and Perranporth.
This is a dangerous coastline offshore, and you are advised to ensure your outboard engine is reliable, carry a spare `get-you-home` engine if possible, and always carry spare fuel, an anchor, a VHF radio and suitable distress flares.
The diving off the North Coast can be spectacular, with depths of 82ft (25m) generally available only 0.5 mile offshore, the majority of the 1,000 recorded shipwrecks lying within 130ft (40m) or 5 miles of the coast. Portreath, at the south-west end of this area offers a good launch site, with every amenity for family members left onshore, the offshore Gull Rock and the remains of the s.s. Escurial offering excellent diving.
In the opposite direction, a 5 mile run to the north-east will bring you to St Agnes and the Bawden Rocks, with Newquay and its numerous offshore wrecks only 5 miles ahead.
Boat launching at Newquay harbour is possible at high-tide, but the beaches are unbelievably crowded in the holiday season. Compressed air is available in Newquay at Jack Beaumont`s Motorcycle shop. Padstow harbour, on the Camel estuary is a good base, with a concrete slipway alongside the Harbour Masters Office and a large public car park.
The Camel Estuary is tidal, and the outer harbour dries at low water Springs, so that it will be necessary to stay out until there is sufficient water to return. There is both an excellent Shipwreck and local Museum at Padstow, and compressed air is available. On the opposite shore to Padstow lies Rock, a small village which offers excellent launch facilities and does not have such a restrictive tidal window. Launching into the Camel allows easy access to Stepper and Pentire Point, the latter the site of the tragic sinking of the square-rigged Maria Assumpta in 1995, also Trevose Head and the offshore islands known as the Quies, Gulland, Newland, Mouls and Rumps.
Further north, Port Isaac is a reasonable if congested launch site, where an early start is recommended, giving access to the 1980 wreck of the MV. Castor I, literally at the harbour entrance. A short distance away in Hell Bay, can be found the remains of the Greek freighter Skopelos Sky.
It is then 23 miles further north before another easy launch site presents itself at Bude. From here it is a relatively short distance back south to Tintagel and Boscastle, where there is terrific diving in the rocky, sandy coves, which abound in colourful wrasse, dog fish, pollock and sea urchins, with many caves and rock formations.
Bude, in particular, offers easy access to many sheltered dive sites, around Dizzard Point and the Cambeak area. There are plenty of shallow and deep wreck sites here, which can be found marked on Admiralty chart No, 1178. A small local museum stands on the quay, almost opposite the RNLI Inshore Rescue Station, which features many relics from shipwrecks as well as lists of local shipwreck incidents.
For local diving information or compressed air contact the local BS-AC club at the Pool & Leisure Centre. Air is available here by prior arrangement only.
ST IVES BAY, ISLES OF SCILLY & MARAZION
PRAA SANDS TO CARRICK ROADS
and more others...
Location description: Dive Site: HMS Scylla
Depth: 24m Visibility: 2 - 14m
Rating: 4 Star
HMS Scylla built in Devonport Dockyards in 1968 as a Leander - class frigate, after a life of 25 years in service combining the likes of patrols in the Cod Wars, escort roles for the Queen`s Silver Jubilee and providing relief in 1980 when hurricane threatened people in the Cayman Islands, became in 2004, when bought by the National Marine Aquarium a new diving reef. Her new found life assists the local economy and important marine research.
Within a year Scylla has complemented `James Eagen Layne` - another local dive attraction; and boasts an array of wildlife including: sea urchins, squirts, anemones, piped hydroids, whiting, dogfish and many a diver!! all contributing to the 8 species of fish and 4 species of invertebrates colony - another 10 - 15 years will see a whole new world.
Since Scylla`s sinking an estimated £1.6 million has boosted the economy in a year - and is believed to continue to do so.
PENTEWAN SANDS TO TORPOINT
The coast east of Falmouth, which includes Nare Head to the Dodman, including Gerrans and Veryan Bay, offers interesting diving, with the barque Hera (1914) just north of Gull Rock. The Gwineas Reef, near Mevagissey is a well known site worth visiting for the profusion of fish and wild life, as well as the remains of the s.s. Caroni River. It is best reached from the miniature harbour at Gorran Haven, but launch and recover here outside of 10am - 5pm, since the beach entrance is blocked off between those hours. Pentewan Sands Holiday Camp is the next launch site, where in the village with its derelict harbour, Ocean Sports offers compressed air, equipment hire, advice and spares. Then comes Charlestown harbour, about 3 miles away.
Charlestown has a slipway which can only be used at certain states of the tide and is very steep, or you can launch - with permission from Square Sail Ltd, the owners - from the beach. In the well-known Charlestown Shipwreck Centre the port boasts the largest collection of shipwreck artefacts on public display in Britain... an excellent bad-weather venue for divers.
Fowey harbour has excellent facilities for launch, parking and diving services around Caffa Mill boat park. Here a large slipway provides easy access to the estuary and Fowey Diving Services offer air refills, equipment hire, spares, advice and boat trips. No diving is allowed within the harbour without permission, but just outside the harbour mouth are long stretches of shallow reefs and the wreck of the bucket dredger Kantoeng in 45ft (13m).
West Looe is the last but one practical launch site in South Cornwall, again completely tidal and with frequent parking problems. By contrast Millendreath - a holiday village east of Looe - is seldom congested. Millendreath Marine, on site, offers compressed air and diver support, and the beach is excellent with facilities for families.

Website: Preview http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/waterside/diving.htm by Thumbshots.org http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/waterside/diving.htm
Summary of the features of this county`s coast.

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Spoken language(s): English
Open: from 09-00 till 17-00
Local time:  Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) London, Edinbourg, Lisboa
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