HAYTAIN - Cornwall & Devon

The Haytain, sitting at a shallow 8 metres, is one of our top picks for a wreck dive that feels genuinely accessible, even if you’re newer to wreck exploration. She went down in ’41, and while time has stripped away a lot of her superstructure, what’s left is a really engaging set of ribs and plates scattered across the seabed. We love poking around the deeper sections of debris, where lobsters and edible crabs often peek out from under the metal. You’ll find squat lobsters clinging to the exposed steel girders, their tiny claws waving in the gentle surge. For us, the Haytain is less about a grand ship and more about the intricate ecosystems that have colonised the remains. Look for conger eels tucked into the larger sections, and if you go on a calmer day, the ambient light filtering down makes the bronze-hued algae covering the wreck glow. It’s a site that rewards slow, careful exploration rather than just a quick swim-through.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.575300, -2.444371
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
8m

Marine Protected Area: Chesil Beach and Stennis Ledges

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 HAYTAIN

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 HAYTAIN

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