BOURNEMOUTH - Cornwall & Devon

The Bournemouth, a steamship that went down in 1886, is a proper slice of history right off the coast. It’s a shallow dive, barely 5m, which means plenty of light even on an overcast day. We love that you can spend a good long time poking around the wreckage, picking out the boiler and the faint outline of the hull. It’s not about grand swim-throughs here, but rather a slow, detailed exploration. You'll find the Bournemouth has become a haven for local critters. Crabs scuttle through the nooks, and we’ve often spotted lobsters tucked into the deeper parts of the hull. The metalwork itself is encrusted with anemones, their tentacles swaying gently with the surge. Visibility can be a bit variable, but even in 5m, a decent torch helps bring out the colours. Our favourite time to dive it is on a slack tide, just after high water; it makes for a much calmer experience. It’s a really solid site for anyone keen on wreck history, or photographers who enjoy macro work amongst the remains.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.514470, -2.460479
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - BOURNEMOUTH

Year Sunk
1886
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
grounding

Launched in 1884, the SS Bournemouth was a relatively new steamship serving the popular tourist routes for the Bournemouth, Swanage & Poole Steam Packet Company. Her career, however, was tragically short. On the night of August 27, 1886, while on passage from Bournemouth, she encountered thick fog and struck the infamous Manacles reef, a notorious ship graveyard off the Cornish coast. The impact tore a hole in her hull, and despite efforts to save her, she sank shortly after.

Today, the Bournemouth rests in just 5 metres of water, making her an exceptionally accessible and fascinating dive. Her shallow depth means long bottom times and excellent light conditions, perfect for novice wreck divers and underwater photographers. The wreck is broken up, but divers can easily identify her single boiler, compound engine, and sections of the hull. Over a century beneath the waves has transformed her into a vibrant artificial reef, bustling with the marine life of the Cornish coast.

Marine Protected Area: South of Portland

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 BOURNEMOUTH

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 BOURNEMOUTH

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