Cornish Diving : Dive Sites and Wrecks in the Falmouth Bay Area

Dive Sites and Wrecks in the Falmouth Bay Area

The Manacles

This area of rocks and underwater pinnacles is one the most popular dive sites: The Mohegan, Raglan Reef and Vase Rock to name but a few

The SS Mohegan was a 7000 ton liner whose loss on the Manacles in 1898 saw the tragic loss of 106 lives. Many of the victims were buried in St. Keverne churchyard. The wreck is wedged against underwater rock pinnacles and varies in depth between 14 to 27m. End your dive by ascending alongside one of the pinnacles - taking a moment to look up and see the kelp blades silhouetted against the sun. Huge boulders are faced with multi-coloured colonies of Plumrose and jewel anemones. GPS: 50.02.750/05.02.645.

The Hera

An extremely pretty wreck situated just off Nare Head. The Hera was a German 4 masted barque bound from Chile to Falmouth carrying a cargo of nitrates. It sank in fog in 1914. Lying in a depth of 17m, the Hera is accessible to most levels of diver. The masts and large sections of hull can still be seen, although penetration should be undertaken with care. The wreck is home to some very large Pollock an Ballan Wrasse. On sections of the hull, you can see colonies of jewel, dahlia and Plumrose anemones. GPS:50.12.015/04.54.275.

The Volnay

A steamship of 4610 tons carrying a cargo of luxury good and ammunition. The shot is always placed between 3 immense boilers, which make an excellent base from which to navigate this wreck. Heading southwards you can follow the decking until you come to the bow sticking up off the bottom, nestling against a reef. Keep an eye out for lead balls and wooden packing case material lying around the site, a clue to the ship's cargo. Large sea urchins can be seen as well as the odd cuckoo Wrasse. GPS: 50.04.367/05.03.987.

The SS Stanwood

Lying on the North Bank slope in the Carrick Roads, the SS Stanwood is in essence, a multilevel dive. A 4158 ton steamship, her cargo of coal caught fire and she sank in December 1939. Although heavily salvaged, lumps of coal can still be found as well as large sections of wreckage. Towards 27m you can see girders festooned with large Plumrose anemones. Occasionally, an old lobster can be seen in some pipework as well as some big congers! Schools of fish can be seen congregating around the shallower areas of the wreck. GPS: 50.10.325/05.02.130.

N G Peterson

Situated in 20-22m, the N G Peterson is where you go if you want to see BIG Congers! Carrying 1900 tons of iron ore, this Danish steamship collided with another ship and sank in 1918. GPS: 50.07.135/05.03.125.

The Ponus

A 5077 ton tanker carrying oil. She ran aground on Gyllyngvase Reef in November 1916, caught fire and burned brightly for three days! Much can be seen of her lying in 10m. This is an excellent dive with large Wrasse in and around the wreck. The reef is also fascinating with a lot of gullies where Cuttlefish and Pollock abound. John Dory are also seen !

The U-Boats

At the end of WW1 Seven U-boats were allocated to Falmouth for Gunnery practice and were moored off Gyllyngvase Beach. Five were left when a November storm broke their moorings forcing them onto the rocks. Today, in an average depth of 8m large sections of them can be explored as well as a solitary boiler that is home to a variety of Wrasse who come out to play when divers appear !