ARNO (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Forget your preconceptions of UK diving when it comes to the Arno. This isn't a deep, silty trudge; it’s a vibrant, shallow playground. We love it because it’s a perfect shore dive, easy to access, and feels like you've stumbled onto a secret garden. The Arno sits right in the shallows, barely a few metres deep at high tide, so your bottom time is practically unlimited. The wreck itself is well broken, scattered across the seabed, but that’s its charm. You’ll find bits of hull plating, ribs poking up, and the impressive boiler still largely intact, covered in an explosion of colour. Look closely, and you’ll see plumose anemones, dahlia anemones, and a surprising number of wrasse darting in and out of the crevices. The light penetration here is often fantastic, especially on a sunny day with a gentle swell, making the reds and oranges of the anemones truly pop. It’s a photographer’s dream and a perfect site for newer divers or those who just want a relaxed potter without the pressure of depth. We’d suggest going at slack high water for the best visibility.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.706200, -0.795010
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
4m

Wreck History - ARNO (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1899
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
unknown

The vessel identified as possibly being the Arno is a classic late-Victorian steamship, built in the renowned shipbuilding hub of Sunderland in 1871. It was lost in February 1899 while on a passage from Shields to Portsmouth, a common route for coastal traders and colliers of the era. Lying in a mere 4 metres of water, this wreck is extremely accessible, offering a glimpse into 19th-century maritime technology.

Due to its shallow depth and more than a century of exposure to the coastal environment of Cornwall and Devon, the Arno is a very broken-up site. The dive is a scavenger hunt across the seabed, searching for the tell-tale signs of a steamship. The most prominent feature is often the boiler, too solid to be easily destroyed by the sea. Divers can also find scattered hull plating, ribs, and parts of the 98-horsepower engine, all heavily encrusted and providing a habitat for local marine creatures. It's a perfect dive for a sunny day and is even explorable by snorkelers.

Marine Protected Area: Selsey Bill and the Hounds

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 ARNO (POSSIBLY)

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 ARNO (POSSIBLY)

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