BRIALAN - Cornwall & Devon

Diving the *Brialan* always feels like finding a forgotten toy box at the bottom of the sea. She’s a small fishing vessel, only 9.8 metres, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in character. We love how she settled upright, her wheelhouse still largely intact, giving you a real sense of her final moments. You can peek into what would have been the engine room, where the flooding started back in '83, and imagine the scramble. This site is less about grand exploration and more about intimate discovery. We've often found conger eels tucked deep inside her hull, their heads just visible in the gloom. The deck beams host some vibrant jewel anemones, a pop of orange and pink against the rust, and we've regularly spotted spider crabs clambering over the gunwales. For us, the *Brialan* is perfect for a relaxed second dive, or if you’re keen on photography, the manageable depth of 37 metres means you get a good bottom time to really compose your shots without feeling rushed. It’s a quiet, reflective dive, suited to those who appreciate the smaller details and the stories wrecks tell. Just be mindful of the often-present fishing lines snagged on her superstructure.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.313858, -4.391295
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
37m

Wreck History - BRIALAN

Year Sunk
1983
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
unknown

The Brialan was a small, 9.8-meter fishing vessel whose working life came to a sudden end in November 1983. While operating out of Brixham, a major fishing port in Devon, her engine space began to flood. The crew was unable to stop the ingress of water, and the small boat sank beneath the waves. Now, she lies on the seabed as a popular dive site for local enthusiasts.

Resting upright at a depth of 37 meters, the Brialan is a fantastic wreck for an advanced single dive. Though small, she is remarkably intact, offering a complete and recognizable vessel to explore. Divers can swim around the wheelhouse, peer into the holds, and see the fishing gear that was in use on her final day. The wreck has become a thriving artificial reef, with its nets and structure providing a perfect habitat for conger eels, crabs, lobsters, and colorful cuckoo wrasse. Its compact size and preserved state make it a favorite for underwater photographers.

Marine Protected Area: Whitsand and Looe Bay

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 BRIALAN

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 BRIALAN

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