FORELAND

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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) - FORELAND 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 2m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Foreland, near Polzeath, isn't a deep dive, barely two metres at high tide, but it’s a site we find ourselves drawn back to, especially on a calm day. This isn't about giant pelagics or technicolour reefs. It’s about history, proximity, and seeing what the sea reclaims. The wreck of the collier vessel, an old steamer, sits broken up across the sandy bottom. You can trace its outline, the plates and frames forming little canyons and overhangs. It’s a shallow playground for pollock and wrasse, darting between the rusty metalwork. Look closely and you’ll spot crab claws waving from beneath a crumpled beam, or a sneaky flatfish perfectly camouflaged against the sand. We like to drift over it with the gentle swell, letting the sun filter through the water, highlighting the barnacle-encrusted metal. It’s an easy shore dive, perfect for a relaxed afternoon, or when the boat trips are off due to weather. Definitely one for the macro enthusiasts and wreck history buffs who appreciate the subtle beauty of a working ship reclaimed by the sea.