CITY OF GHENT - Cornwall & Devon

The *City of Ghent* isn't one of those wrecks where you need a guide to point out a vague outline in the sand. This is a proper ship, upright and largely intact, sitting on a sandy seabed at 25 metres. We love that you can really get a sense of her as a vessel, not just a pile of plates. She went down in 1955 after hitting rocks near Black Head, a relatively new build at the time, en route from Dublin to Fowey. You’ll find her midships and stern still quite impressive, with plenty of penetration opportunities for those with the right training and gear – the engine room is a highlight, quite eerie in the low light. Expect to see conger eels tucked into every nook, their heads poking out like curious gargoyles. Dogfish often rest on the sand nearby, and we’ve seen some decent lobsters clambering over the bow section. Our favourite time to dive her is on an ebb tide, just after slack, when the visibility tends to be at its best. It’s a dive that suits experienced cold-water wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and a decent amount of structure to explore.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.961617, -5.163583
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25m

Marine Protected Area: Lizard Point

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 CITY OF GHENT

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 CITY OF GHENT

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