CARONI RIVER
Protected Area
Swanpool
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) - CARONI RIVER offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Caroni River, sunk by a mine in 1940, sits upright in around 21 metres of water off the coast of Cornwall. It's a proper British wreck, dark and silty, but with a real sense of history to it. We love a good penetration, and this tanker offers plenty of opportunities for careful exploration, especially around the engine room which is surprisingly intact. You’ll weave through beams and pipes, feeling the temperature drop a degree or two inside, the light from your torch picking out dead man’s fingers on the bulkheads. Outside, the sheer scale of the 139-metre hull is impressive. We often find conger eels peering from every nook and cranny, and the deck plates are carpeted with jewel anemones, flashes of orange and pink in the gloom. It’s a site that rewards multiple dives. Each time you’ll spot a new detail, a different gantry, or a section of superstructure you missed before. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the atmosphere of a cold water site and are comfortable with limited visibility. Slack water is crucial here; otherwise, the current can make navigating the interior quite challenging.
Typical CARONI RIVER Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 21m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
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.
CARONI RIVER Wreck History
Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
tanker
Cause
mine
The SS Caroni River was a British tanker built in 1928 in Glasgow for the British Empire Steam Navigation Co., part of the famed Royal Mail Lines. Named after a river in Venezuela, the vessel was part of a fleet that connected the UK to the far reaches of its global interests. With the outbreak of the Second World War, merchant vessels like the Caroni River became vital for the war effort, but also prime targets for enemy action.
On January 20, 1940, while navigating the treacherous waters off the English coast, the Caroni River's journey came to an abrupt and violent end. The tanker struck a German-laid mine and sank, becoming one of the many early casualties of the war at sea. The wreck now lies in the English Channel at a depth of 21 meters, a common depth for many of the region's WWII wrecks.
Diving the Caroni River is a journey back in time, but one that comes with a caution. The wreck is significantly broken up, a testament to the explosion that sank it. Due to its condition and potential hazards, it has been designated as a 'Dangerous Wreck', and access may be restricted. For those with the experience and permission to explore it, the site offers a poignant look at a piece of maritime history, now patrolled by the marine life of Cornwall and Devon.
Nearest Dive Centres to CARONI RIVER
Dive shops near CARONI RIVER
DiveUK
Porthkerris Divers
Seaways Diving
Karleyth Diving Ltd.
Viewpoint Diving Centre
Wavecrest Scuba
Reviews for CARONI RIVER
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for CARONI RIVER
CARONI RIVER Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for CARONI RIVER, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (50.44, -2.73) (3km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
17°C
62°F · Range: 15.1–17.5°C
Air Temperature
13°C
56°F
Wind Speed
8.14 m/s
15.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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