AFFLECK - Cornwall & Devon

The *Affleck* isn’t about depth, it’s about history you can touch, right there in the shallows of The Manacles. This brigantine went down in 1838, and while you won't find a grand, intact hull, what you do get is a scatter of timbers and hull plating spread across the seabed. We love it because it's a genuine treasure hunt; you’re piecing together a story with every glimpse of a fastened beam or rusted plate. Visibility can be a real mixed bag here, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the water, illuminating the kelp-covered debris. We’ve spent hours here, tracing the line of what might have been a keel, imagining the chaos of that September night. Conger eels sometimes peek out from under the larger plates, and the cracks in the old timbers are often packed with velvet swimming crabs. Our favourite moments are finding the old iron fastenings, solid and unyielding, still doing their job after almost two centuries underwater. It’s a site for those who appreciate maritime archaeology and don’t need dramatic drop-offs to feel connected to the past.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.046432, -5.051040
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - AFFLECK

Year Sunk
1838
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The 'Affleck' was a 19th-century brigantine, a two-masted sailing vessel common during the great age of sail. In September 1838, she met the same fate as hundreds of other ships when she ran afoul of The Manacles, a treacherous group of submerged rocks off the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. These reefs were a notorious shipping hazard, responsible for countless maritime tragedies. The 'Affleck' was wrecked upon the rocks and quickly broke apart, her cargo and timbers scattered by the relentless Cornish seas.

Today, the remains of the 'Affleck' lie in just 5 meters of water, making for an excellent and historically significant shallow dive or snorkel. Due to its age and the violent nature of its sinking, the wreck is heavily broken and dispersed. Divers can explore the wreckage, now completely encrusted with marine life, and hunt for small artifacts like pottery shards or copper pins. It's a dive that connects you directly to the perilous history of Britain's maritime trade, lying on a seabed that serves as a graveyard for centuries of lost ships.

Marine Protected Area: The Manacles

Best Time to Dive in Cornwall & Devon

The warmest water temperatures in Cornwall & Devon occur in January, averaging 9.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 9.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 9.6°C (air: 7.3°C)
  • February: 9.6°C (air: 8.4°C)
  • March: 9.6°C (air: 8.6°C)
  • April: 9.6°C (air: 10.1°C)
  • May: 9.6°C (air: 12.6°C)
  • June: 9.6°C (air: 15.2°C)
  • July: 9.6°C (air: 16.6°C)
  • August: 9.6°C (air: 17.1°C)
  • September: 9.6°C (air: 15.9°C)
  • October: 9.6°C (air: 13.5°C)
  • November: 9.6°C (air: 10.7°C)
  • December: 9.6°C (air: 8.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cornwall & Devon

Nearest Dive Centres to AFFLECK

Marine Life in Cornwall & Devon

Home to 192 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 13 whales & dolphins, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for AFFLECK

Based on average water temperature of 9.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 10°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories