BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY)

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Castlemartin Coast

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY) offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 48m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

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.

Typical BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY) Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Maximum depth 48m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:3817:3811h 0m daylightGolden hour 16:52

BOY TOBY (POSSIBLY) Wreck History

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.