City of Ghent wreck
The City of Ghent was a 616 ton, 64m long motor vessel. It hit Black Head but managed to get off, it was taking in water and started to list, then sank near the Lizard point on 15/11/1953.
It now lies upside down and although the superstructure has collapsed, it is reasonably intact. An excellent dive where tide timings are important. Maximum depth is around 35m.
Dive Site List
Wreck | Area | Lost | Depth in M |
---|---|---|---|
01. ss Stanwood | Carrick Roads | 1939 | 18-26 |
02. Epsilon | Falmouth Bay | 1917 | 24 |
03. Sevra | Falmouth Bay | 1941 | 16 |
04. Caroni Rivers | Falmouth Bay | 1942 | 26 |
05. N.G. Petersen | Falmouth Bay | 1918 | 22 |
06. H.M.T. Rinovia | Falmouth Bay | 1941 | 52 |
07. Jersey Queen | Falmouth Bay | 1940 | 52 |
08. Andromeda | Porthmellin Head | 1915 | 7 |
09. sv Hera | Veryan Bay | 1914 | 18 |
10. Lady of the Isles | Gerrans Bay | 1904 | 52 |
11. Rock Island Bridge | Helford | 1928 | 13 |
12. Volnay | Porthallow Bay | 1917 | 22 |
13. Bay of Panama | Porthallow Bay | 1891 | 9 |
14. Lady Dalhousie | Manacles | 1884 | 12 |
15. SS Mohegan | Manacles | 1891 | 26 |
16. Andola | Manacles | 1895 | 10 |
17. H.M.S Primrose | Manacles | 1809 | 17 |
18. Port Chalmers | Lowland Point | 1886 | 12 |
19. Pindos | Chynalls Point | 1912 | 12 |
20. Rose | Chynalls Point | 1866 | 12 |
21. SS Veritas | Coverack | 1907 | 38 |
22. Godolphin | Black Head | 1888 | 10 |
23. Plantagenet | Black Head | 1897 | 10 |
24. Clan Alpine | Black Head | 1873 | 12 |
25. Gunvor | Pedn Boar | 1912 | 12 |
26. Carmarthen | Kennack Bay | 1916 | 23 |
27. Citrine | Kennack Bay | 1955 | 23 |
28. Bellucia | Kennack Bay | 1917 | 19 |
29. Socoa | Kennack Bay | 1906 | 11 |
30. Clan Malcolm | Lizard | 1935 | 16 |
31. Adolf Vinnen | Lizard | 1923 | 13 |
32. Czar | Lizard | 1859 | 18 |
33. Hansy | Lizard | 1911 | 11 |
34. Mosel | Lizard | 1882 | 14 |
35. Ilston | Lizard | 1917 | 46 |
36. Spyridion Vagliano | Manacles | 1890 | 18 |
37. Ponus | Falmouth Bay | 1916 | 7 |
38. UC92 | Falmouth Bay | 1921 | 6 |
39. UBs 86, 112, 97, 128, 106 | Falmouth Bay | 1921 | 8 |
40. City of Ghent | Lizard | 1955 | 34 |
41. Carmalina | Manacles | 1917 | 54 |
42. Eric Calvert | Falmouth Bay | 1917 | 58 |
43. Bretonne | Falmouth Bay | 1923 | 58 |
44. Great Eastern | Falmouth Bay | 58 | |
45. Cape Finistere | Falmouth Bay | 1917 | 60 |
46. Sommeina | Falmouth Bay | 1917 | 59 |
47. Spital | Falmouth Bay | 1918 | 58 |
48. Plane | Gerrans Bay | 1942 | 32 |
49. Unknown Wreck | Lizard | 58 | |
50. Eskdale | Falmouth Bay | 1943 | 70 |
51. Rubaan | Lizard | 1939 | 25 |
52. Eastfield | Dodman | 1917 | 48 |
53. Butetown | Dodman | 1918 | 49 |
54. UB113 | Dodman | 1920 | 58 |
55. Lord Snowden | Falmouth Bay | 1942 | 59 |
56. Hansey | Lizard | 1911 | 12 |
57. UB118 | Dodman | 1920 | 68 |
58. Tug | Falmouth Bay | 1944 | 25 |
59. Vinlake | Falmouth Bay | 1917 | 58 |
60. Dispatch | Black Head | 1809 | 10 |
61. Briel | Black Head | 1791 | 10 |
62. Active | Lizard | 1942 | 32 |
63. Brest | Lizard | 1906 | 12 |
64. Leon Martin | Falmouth Bay | 1940 | 14 |
65. Bomber | Manacles | 51 | |
66. Brett | Lizard | 1989 | 40 |
67. Ibis | Lizard | 1918 | 34 |
68. Lydie | Falmouth Bay | 1918 | 65 |
69. Ben Asdale | Falmouth Bay | 1978 | 0-5 |
70. HMS Torrid & The Queen | Carrick Roads | 8 | |
Reefs | Area | Depth (M) | |
100. The Old Wall Reef | Gerrans Bay | 8 – 36 | |
101. Bizzies Reef | Gerrans Bay | 7 – 18 | |
102. Outer Bizzies Canyon | Gerrans Bay | 15 – 32 | |
103. Lath Rock | Veryan Bay | 7 – 24 | |
104. East Narrows Wall | Carrick Roads | 14 – 36 | |
105. Shore’s Rock | Gerrans Bay | 2 – 8 | |
106. Wrigglers Inner Pinnacle | Falmouth Bay | 28 – 54 | |
107. Vase Rock | Manacles | 7 – 36 | |
108. Pen Wyn Reef | Manacles | 4 – 46 | |
109. Half Way Rocks | Manacles | 10 – 32 | |
110. Raglans Reef | Manacles | 8 – 38 | |
111. Foam Rock | Lowland Point | 5 – 22 | |
112. The Razers | Black Head | 10 – 26 | |
113. Pencra & Tol Peg | Falmouth Bay | 8-30 | |
114. Killigerran Head | Gerrans Bay | 8 | |
115. Helford River MCZ | Helford | 8 | |
116. Helford Pool and Drift | Helford | 18 | |
117. Carn Du | Manacles | 6-36 | |
118. Fraggle Rock & Cave | Falmouth Bay | 8 | |
119. Newporth Head | Falmouth Bay | 7 | |
120. St Just Pool/Kat’s Wall | Carrick Roads | 30 | |
121. Trefusis Head | Carrick Roads | 8 | |
122. Turnaware Bar | Carrick Roads | 18 | |
123. The Whelps | Gerrans Bay | 6-30 | |
124. Cannon Ball | Falmouth Bay | 21 | |
125. Seal Caves | Falmouth Bay | 9 | |
126. Puskeys | Falmouth Bay | 17-34 | |
127. Maenland | Manacles | 5-23 | |
128. August Rock | Helford | 3-12 | |
129. East Davas | Lowland Point | 6-14 | |
130. Vrogue Rock | Lizard | 5-21 | |
131. Cannons | Gerrans Bay | 15 | |
132. Gull Rock Caves | Gerrans Bay | 10 | |
133. Holland Rock | Gerrans Bay | 26-18 | |
134. The Manacles | The Manacles | 0-44 | |
Species Specific | Area | Depth (M) | |
135. Sea Grass | Falmouth | 1-10 | |
136. Maerl | Falmouth | 4-10 | |
137. Pink Sea Fans | Falmouth | 18-70 | |
138. Grey Seals | Falmouth | 0-10 |
Lady of the Isles
The Lady of the Isles was a cable layer for the navy at the time of it’s sinking. It was under tow when it hit a mine. It now lies in a depth of around 52m and is another easy trimix dive. Small enough to complete in a single trimix dive, the stern is quite intact while the bow section is quite broken.
Rinovia HMT
The HMT Rinovia was a steam fishing vessel, requisitioned as a mine sweeper in 1939. In 1940, it hit a mine and sank. It now lies in around 55m and is a really nice shallow trimix dive. It is small enough to be covered in a single dive, even at this depth. Lying fairly intact and upright, it can have a covering of fishing nets, which are themselves, normally covered in Plumose anemones.
Sevra Wreck
Little remains of the wreck of the requisitioned trawler, the Sevra (HMT or HMS). There is some discussion as to which wreckage belongs to the Sevra and that of the AN2, both were very similar ships and both used as mine sweepers. They sank within a few hundred metres of each other, within two days or each other and were both flattened at the same time in 1949 by HMS Caldy. After the levelling, the records got mixed up.
Not an easy site to find, it can be easily missed underwater too, it is quite flat.
Leon Martin Wreck
The Leon Martin detonated a mine in 1940 off of Falmouth whilst carrying 2,300 tons of gas oil. She ended up just off of St Anthony’s light house and now lies well broken.
Andromeda Wreck
The 1928 ton four masted sailing barque, the sv Andromeda, was on route to Falmouth from Tacoma when on early Saturday morning a terrific gale drove her ashore on Porthmellin Head. She was waiting for the ship’s pilot to come but they never received the call. Carrying a cargo of 2,500 tons of wheat, the 82.67m x 12.91m x 7.16m ship became a total loss. read more →
Bay of Panama Wreck
The 89m long, 2300 ton Bay of Panama was on route from Calcutta to Dundee when she got caught in an almighty storm. The four masted steel sailing ship was dashed against the Rocks on 10/03/1891, near Near Head.
It now lies well broken in the shallows covered in sand and kelp for most of the year. When it is exposed it is a surreal sight, it can look like it has just sunk after the metal has been sand blasted. The wreck has partially buried itself so you can end up diving under the sea bed. Lying between 3-8m in depth it is suitable for all levels of divers.
Ponus Wreck
The Ponus was a 5077 ton oil tanker.It came ashore near Gyllyngvase Beach in November 1916. It’s cargo caught fire and kept Falmouth lit for three nights. It was heavily salvaged but there’s still quite a lot of remains.
Today it is well broken and often a lot is covered in sand. Still a nice rummage dive, the highest point is only about 2m. This is primarily a shore dive but does make an easy boat dive. read more →