HMS ACHERON (STERN SECTION) - Cornwall & Devon

We’ve spent a lot of hours on Cornish wrecks, and the stern section of the HMS Acheron always pulls us back. It’s a deep dive, sitting at 41 metres, so definitely one for the experienced trimix crowd. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer size of the thing, especially the twin shafts and props, they’re colossal. You get a real sense of the power this destroyer once had. The wreck itself is pretty broken, but the stern is largely intact and it’s become a fantastic artificial reef. We love swimming through the torpedo tubes, which are now completely encrusted with jewel anemones, glowing orange and pink in your torch beam. Look for conger eels tucked into every dark crevice, some of them are huge. On a clear day, with a bit of ambient light, it feels almost otherworldly down there, a proper piece of history reclaimed by the ocean. It’s not a quick bounce dive; we suggest taking your time, really exploring the different compartments and soaking in the atmosphere. The currents can be tricky here, so pick your slack water carefully.

Location: Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 50.523457, -1.505343
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 41m

Marine Protected Area: Tennyson

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to HMS ACHERON (STERN SECTION)

Abyss Scuba School - ["PADI"]
Andark Diving - ["PADI"]
Aquanaut Scuba & Snorkelling Centre Ltd - ["PADI"]
Berkshire Divecrew Training 2012 Ltd. - ["PADI"]
Bouley Bay Dive Centre
Celtic Deep

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

Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) - Whales & Dolphins
dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
Bastard Sole (Microchirus variegatus) - Reef Fish
harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
solenette (Buglossidium luteum) - Reef Fish
Sand mason (Lanice conchilega) - Worms
Scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) - Reef Fish
Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
Angler (Lophius piscatorius) - Reef Fish
Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
Devonshire cup coral (Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii) - Hard Corals
Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels

Recommended Packing List for HMS ACHERON (STERN SECTION)

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