BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Let’s be honest, you’re not coming to the UK for balmy waters, but for wreck diving, Cornwall delivers. The *Boy Toby* is a prime example of why we love diving off Plymouth. Dropping down to 48 metres, this small fishing vessel, sunk in 1980, offers a proper technical dive. You’ll hit the main deck first, then the stern, where the damage from the stern tube breaking away is still evident – a stark reminder of its final moments. We’ve spent hours poking around this wreck, and it’s always rewarding. Expect the usual suspects: conger eels peering from every dark recess, spider crabs scuttling across the deck, and sometimes, a school of pollock swirling above the superstructure. It’s compact enough to explore thoroughly on a single dive, but deep enough to demand careful planning. Our tip? Go on a slack tide, otherwise, you’ll be fighting some serious current down there. Visibility can be hit or miss, but on a good day, seeing the full 14 metres of the *Boy Toby* laid out below you is a real treat. It’s a site for experienced cold water wreck divers, definitely not one for beginners.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.559700, -5.073633
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
48m

Wreck History - BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1980
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
unknown

The fishing vessel Boy Toby foundered on December 3, 1980, not due to a storm or collision, but because of a critical mechanical failure. While at sea, the vessel's stern tube, which houses the propeller shaft, broke away from the deadwood of the hull. This created a catastrophic leak, and the boat began taking on water far faster than its pumps could handle. A tow was attempted in a desperate effort to save the vessel, but it was ultimately futile. The Boy Toby slipped beneath the waves and settled on the seabed.

Lying at a depth of 48 meters in the waters off Cornwall, the Boy Toby is an excellent dive for experienced recreational or technical divers. As a relatively modern wreck, it is largely intact, though its wooden hull is slowly deteriorating. Divers can explore the 14-meter vessel, observing its deck features and machinery. The clear cause of sinking makes it an interesting site for those fascinated by the mechanics of maritime disasters, offering a tangible connection to the final, frantic hours of the doomed vessel.

Marine Protected Area: Castlemartin Coast

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 BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY)

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 BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY)

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