GUILDING STAR

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) - GUILDING STAR 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 3m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Guilding Star. What a quirky little dive, sitting in only three metres of water just off Mevagissey. We’ve done this one more times than we can count, often just as a cheeky second dive when we’ve had enough of the chop out on the deeper wrecks. You feel the cool, silty bottom first, then your mask settles on the distorted hull plates, twisted like abstract art. It’s an old steamer, sunk back in 1920, and the years have really done a number on her. You’re not getting much structure here, it’s all spread out, but that’s exactly why we love it. It’s a fantastic rummage dive, perfect for a long, slow potter. Look closely and you’ll find conger eels tucked into every crevice, their heads peeking out, watching you pass. The lobsters are massive here, truly some of the biggest we’ve seen in Cornwall, clambering over the broken bits of machinery. And the spider crabs. Honestly, sometimes it feels like they’re having a convention on the deck plates. We’d suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, though even then, expect a proper Cornwall green. It’s not about crystal clear here, it’s about the hunt, the discovery of life in the chaos.