CARNSEW - Cornwall & Devon

There’s something about a Cornish wreck, isn't there? The Carnsew, deep off Bull Point, is a proper dive, and one we always enjoy. She’s a decent sized steamship, down at 39 metres, perfect for those comfortable with deeper decompression obligations. What hits you first, even through the often murky green, is the sheer scale. The bow points west, and you can swim right along her length, exploring the cargo holds, now home to armies of squat lobsters. We particularly love the engine room. It’s pretty intact, a tangible connection to her sudden end back in 1916. Look out for the triple-expansion engine; it’s still remarkably defined. Around the boiler, conger eels are almost guaranteed, coiled in the gloom, their eyes glinting in your torch beam. Visibility can be a challenge here, particularly after a strong south-westerly, but when it’s good, the structure is just fantastic. It’s a great site for experienced wreck divers looking for a bit of history and plenty of resident critters.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.240166, -4.260217
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
39m

Wreck History - CARNSEW

Year Sunk
1916
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
collision

The SS Carnsew was a classic British steam collier built in 1910. A workhorse of the era, she was powered by a triple-expansion engine and spent her career transporting coal. On January 14th, 1916, with the First World War raging, the Carnsew was steaming from Penarth with a full load of coal. Her end came not from a German U-boat's torpedo, but from a more common maritime peril-a collision with another vessel in the busy shipping lanes off the coast of Cornwall.

Resting at a depth of 39 meters, the Carnsew is a challenging and rewarding dive reserved for experienced divers with the appropriate training and equipment for deeper exploration. The wreck's depth limits bottom time, and the site can be subject to strong currents and variable visibility, demanding careful dive planning. Those who make the descent will find the remains of a wartime collier, where they can explore the wreckage and seek out her single boiler and engine, now home to conger eels, lobsters, and dense shoals of fish.

Marine Protected Area: Morte Platform

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 CARNSEW

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 CARNSEW

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