CARBON - Cornwall & Devon

The Carbon is a proper little time capsule, a 30-metre steam barge sitting in just two metres of water near the entrance to Ely Harbour. We love how accessible it is, making it a brilliant spot for those days when you just want to get in the water without a huge production. Dropping down, you’re straight onto the wreck, its iron plates draped in a thick tapestry of green and brown algae, swaying gently with the tide. You can still make out the single boiler and the compound expansion engine, though they’re heavily encrusted now. The hull itself is a low-lying structure, but the gaps and crevices are perfect homes for small crabs and blennies. We’ve even seen small pollock darting through the remaining framework. It’s not a deep dive, obviously, so light penetrates everywhere, illuminating the rust colours and the odd splash of jewel anemones. It’s an ideal site for macro photography or simply a relaxed potter, letting you soak in a bit of history. Try to time it for slack water on a sunny day; the visibility really pops then.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.469643, -3.028779
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
2m

Wreck History - CARBON

Year Sunk
1919
Vessel Type
barge
Cause
storm
Tonnage
126 GRT

The Carbon was a small steam barge built in Bristol in 1892. For nearly three decades, she worked the coastal routes, a reliable workhorse of her time. In 1919, while on a passage from Ely Harbour in Wales to her home port of Bristol with a cargo of stone, she was caught in a fierce gale in the Bristol Channel. The small vessel was no match for the storm's fury and foundered, sinking in the shallows. Today, the remains of the Carbon lie in just 2 metres of water. Due to the shallow depth and the powerful tidal currents of the area, the wreck is heavily broken up and scattered across the seabed. It is more of a debris field of metal plates and machinery than a recognizable ship, but on a calm day at high tide, it can be an interesting site for snorkelers or trainee divers to explore and observe the marine life that has colonized the wreckage.

Marine Protected Area: Severn Estuary

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 CARBON

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 CARBON

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