BROADHURST (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The *Broadhurst* is one of those wrecks that really gets under your skin. Lying deep at 57m off the coast of Shoreham, it is a proper technical dive, but the reward is a beautiful piece of history. We’ve always been drawn to wrecks that tell a story, and the *Broadhurst*, torpedoed by an E-boat in 1940, definitely does. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer scale. It is a steel hull, still largely intact, with a huge boiler and triple expansion engine dominating the midships. We love navigating the cavernous holds, imagining the cargo it once carried. Keep an eye out for conger eels, they’ve made a real home here, sometimes peering out from surprising nooks. Our favourite part has to be the stern, often swarming with schools of pollack, their silver scales glinting in the beam of your torch. The *Broadhurst* is for experienced technical divers who appreciate historical wrecks and aren't afraid of the depth. It’s a quiet, reflective dive, a journey back in time.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.592270, -0.251534
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
57m

Wreck History - BROADHURST (PROBABLY)

Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
1,015 GRT

The SS Broadhurst was a British steam collier, a workhorse of the coastal trade, transporting coal from the mines in Seaham down to Shoreham-by-Sea. On July 26, 1940, while on this routine passage, she fell victim to a new and deadly threat in the English Channel: the German E-boat. These fast torpedo boats would launch lightning-fast raids under the cover of darkness.

The Broadhurst was struck by a torpedo and sank quickly, with the tragic loss of four of her crew. Lying at a depth of 57 metres, this wreck is strictly for experienced technical divers with the necessary training and equipment for deep, decompression diving. For those qualified to make the descent, the wreck is a sombre and fascinating time capsule. At this depth, she is likely to be more intact than her shallower counterparts, offering a glimpse of a typical coastal steamer, complete with its boiler and triple-expansion engine, now silent on the seabed.

Marine Protected Area: Kingmere

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 BROADHURST (PROBABLY)

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 BROADHURST (PROBABLY)

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