BALTIC SURVEYOR - Cornwall & Devon

The Baltic Surveyor is a cracking dive, shallow and full of character. We love the way she sits upright, almost like she’s still sailing, just on the seabed now. You can really get a sense of her shape, the wheelhouse is still largely intact and the hold offers some nice swim-throughs if you're comfortable with overhead environments. This wreck is a magnet for life. We often find conger eels tucked away in every crevice, sometimes just their heads poking out looking grumpy. Crab and lobster are everywhere, scuttling amongst the plates, and the deck often has flatfish settled on it, perfectly camouflaged. It’s a great site for photographers because the light penetrates well, and the growth on the wreck is wonderfully colourful – lots of jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers. Best dived on a slack tide, obviously, to really take your time exploring her.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.372047, -4.190829
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
9m

Wreck History - BALTIC SURVEYOR

Year Sunk
1996
Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
170 GRT

The Baltic Surveyor was a small survey vessel tasked with mapping the seabed, a crucial job for navigation and construction. Its career was cut short on October 28, 1996, when it fell victim to the notoriously rough seas off the Cornish coast. Caught in severe weather, the vessel was driven ashore and ran aground near Hannafore Point, West Looe, where it was battered by the relentless waves.

Despite attempts to salvage the vessel, the powerful sea conditions proved too much, and the Baltic Surveyor was declared a total loss. The wreck was broken apart by subsequent storms, scattering its remains across the shallow reef. Because of its proximity to shore and shallow depth, it was designated a "Dangerous Wreck" to warn other vessels of the navigational hazard.

Lying in just 9 meters of water, the wreckage of the Baltic Surveyor is now a popular and highly accessible dive site, especially for novice divers and training agencies. While no longer intact, the scattered plates, engine block, and other components create a fascinating artificial reef. The twisted metal provides shelter for a surprising amount of marine life, including wrasse, pollack, crabs, and lobsters. It's a perfect example of how nature quickly reclaims man-made objects, turning a maritime disaster into a thriving underwater habitat.

Marine Protected Area: St John's Lake

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 BALTIC SURVEYOR

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 BALTIC SURVEYOR

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