BARMSTON - Cornwall & Devon

There’s something about a Cornish wreck, isn't there? The Barmston is a firm favourite of ours, not just for its history, but for how it’s settled on the seabed. She was originally the Martha Sayber, built way back in 1888, a steamship that met her end in 1918. You drop onto the main body of the wreck at about 16 metres, and it's quite intact for its age. We love how the two boilers stand proud, like ancient sentinels, and the triple expansion engine is a fantastic focus for exploration. You’ll often find conger eels tucked into the darker recesses of the machinery, and the plates are thick with jewel anemones, a vibrant splash of colour against the dull metal. Dogfish sometimes cruise over the main deck, their shadows gliding across the hull. It’s a site that really suits divers who enjoy a bit of penetration, though we’d always suggest staying within your comfort zone, as some areas can be quite silty. For us, the Barmston offers a tangible link to the past, a truly atmospheric dive, especially when the light filters down through the green Cornish water.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.544468, -2.456314
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
16m

Wreck History - BARMSTON

Year Sunk
1918
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The SS Barmston was a veteran steamship with a 30-year career that came to a violent end during the final year of World War I. Built in 1888 in Sunderland, this hardy vessel sailed the seas for decades before finding itself in the crosshairs of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign. On March 3, 1918, while sailing off the coast of Cornwall, the Barmston was spotted by the German submarine UB-57.

A single torpedo sealed the steamer's fate, sending her to the seabed. She now rests at a depth of 16 meters, making her a fantastic and highly accessible wreck dive for a wide range of skill levels. Divers can explore the remains of this wartime casualty, including her two large boilers and triple-expansion engine. The wreck is a poignant memorial to the merchant sailors who risked everything during the Great War, and it now serves as a bustling artificial reef, teeming with the marine life of the English Channel.

Marine Protected Area: Chesil Beach and Stennis Ledges

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 BARMSTON

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 BARMSTON

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