DITTISHAM CASTLE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs

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) - DITTISHAM CASTLE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 15m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Dittisham Castle wreck, a fishing vessel that went down in '53, has settled into a comfortable spot at 15 metres. We think it’s a brilliant little dive, perfect for when you want something substantial but not too deep. What makes it special is how the wreck has transformed; it’s less about the boat and more about the structure it provides for everything else. You’ll find walls draped in jewel anemones, all those brilliant oranges and pinks, and the superstructure offers plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. Look closely and you’ll spot gobies and blennies darting between the timbers, and those slightly larger pollack often cruise the edges of the wreck. It’s not a huge site, you can cover it well in a single dive, making it ideal for those calm days when you just want a relaxed potter around a piece of history that’s now teeming with life. Our favourite time to visit is on an incoming tide when the visibility tends to be at its best.