Bombarden Unit (Wreck) - Cornwall & Devon

The Bombarden Unit, resting at a gentle 18 metres, is one of our go-to Cornwall dives when we’re looking for a relaxed exploration. It’s perfect for beginners, but honestly, we find ourselves coming back time and again. We love how much of the wreck is still discernible – not just a pile of plates, you know? You can trace the deck lines, peer into what would have been the holds, and even get a sense of the vessel’s original structure. What makes it special for us is the way the marine life has completely taken over. Big schools of pollack hang suspended over the metalwork, flickering in the shafts of light that pierce the green water. Look closer and you'll spot crabs scuttling amongst the debris, and anenomes clinging to every surface, waving their tentacles in the slight surge. It’s a proper macro playground too, if you’re patient; nudibranchs are always a good find here, camouflaged against the rust. We always try to dive it at slack water, an hour either side of high or low tide, to really take our time exploring without fighting any current. It's an excellent training ground for wreck navigation, or just a really pleasant way to spend an hour underwater.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.629900, -2.407400
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
18m
Difficulty
Beginner

Wreck History - Bombarden Unit (Wreck)

Vessel Type
barge
Cause
unknown

This is not a traditional shipwreck, but a fascinating and unique piece of World War II history. A 'Bombardon Unit' was a key component of the Mulberry Harbours, the massive floating ports engineered by the Allies for the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944. These huge, cross-shaped steel structures were designed to be moored offshore to act as floating breakwaters, calming the seas to allow men and material to be offloaded. This particular unit likely broke its tow on the way to France or was lost in a storm and sank in the English Channel.

Resting at an accessible depth of 18 metres, the Bombarden Unit offers a highly unusual dive. Instead of decks and portholes, divers explore the strange, geometric steel structure, now completely colonized by marine life. It serves as a superb artificial reef, attracting fish and invertebrates, while also standing as a submerged monument to one of the most audacious engineering feats of the war.

Marine Protected Area: Chesil Beach and The Fleet

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 Bombarden Unit (Wreck)

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 Bombarden Unit (Wreck)

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