HMS Amphion - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Amphion wreck is a properly solid dive, a real piece of history lying off the Cornish coast. We’ve always found these old scout cruisers fascinating, and this one, a casualty of the very first days of WWI, tells a story. Dropping down, you're not just seeing metal; you’re seeing the skeletal remains of a ship that met its end barely a month into the war, sunk by a mine. The structure itself is well broken up, but you can still pick out the bow section and some of the machinery, all heavily encrusted now. What we really love here are the sheer numbers of conger eels; they’re everywhere, peeking out from every crevice. You’ll also find lobsters tucked into the plates and schools of pollack hanging above the main wreckage. It’s a dive that suits those with a real appreciation for naval history and a comfort with deeper UK conditions. Dive it on a calm day with good visibility, ideally around slack tide, and you’ll get the best out of it. We always feel a bit of a chill when we think about what happened here; it’s a sombre but incredibly rewarding dive.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
52.183334, 2.600000
Type
wreck

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 HMS Amphion

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 HMS Amphion

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