BELMONT - Cornwall & Devon

The Belmont is one of those wrecks that just keeps giving, especially when the conditions line up. We always aim for a slack tide on a neap, because the currents in the mouth of Padstow Harbour can be a real express train. Dropping down, you hit the bow first, often surrounded by a swirling cloud of bait fish – sand eels usually, or sprats, shimmering like quicksilver. The hull structure is still quite substantial, particularly forward, and you can spend a good chunk of a dive poking around the holds. What we really love about the Belmont is how she’s settled into the seabed. There are gaps and crevices everywhere, perfect hideouts for conger eels, and we’ve seen some absolute monsters lurking in the deeper parts of the wreck. Lobsters are plentiful too, their antennae waving from beneath overturned plates of steel. Look out for the resident wrasse population, particularly corkwing wrasse, zipping between the encrusting anemones. It's a proper British wreck dive, moody and full of life, a brilliant explore for anyone comfortable with a bit of current and a low viz day.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.567210, -4.945231
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - BELMONT

Year Sunk
1920
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
93 GRT

The Belmont was a 93-ton coastal schooner, a workhorse of the seas built in 1895. These sailing vessels were the lifeblood of trade around the British Isles. On April 26, 1920, the Belmont was nearing the end of her passage from Runcorn to Treport, France. As she attempted to navigate the notoriously tricky entrance to Padstow Harbour in Cornwall, she misjudged the channel and struck a rock. The damage was fatal, and the small schooner quickly sank.

With a listed depth of 0 metres, the Belmont is an intertidal wreck, meaning its remains are often exposed at low tide. After more than a century of being pounded by the surf, very little of the original vessel remains intact. Divers and snorkelers exploring the site will find scattered timbers, iron fittings, and other remnants of the wooden hull embedded in the seabed. It is less of a classic wreck dive and more of a historical exploration, a tangible connection to the final days of commercial sail and the unforgiving nature of the Cornish coast.

Marine Protected Area: Trebetherick Point

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 BELMONT

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 BELMONT

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