HMS Bulwark - Cornwall & Devon

Now, the HMS Bulwark. This isn't your pretty reef dive, it’s a proper piece of history, sunk by internal explosion during WWI. We love it because it’s a big, broken monster of a wreck, scattered across the seabed near Sheerness. You drop down, and the scale of the destruction hits you immediately. We’re talking about massive plates of steel, twisted like paper, and huge sections of the hull lying on their side. Visibility can be a bit 'Cornwall', so we always aim for slack water on a decent tide to get the best out of it. There are often big conger eels tucked into the darker corners, and crabs scuttling over the debris. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the sheer power of a wreck, the engineering, and the quiet, almost eerie atmosphere of a battleship that met such a violent end. Our favourite part? Finding one of the enormous steam engines, still largely intact, a testament to the sheer scale of these old warships. Bring a good torch; there are plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.416668, 0.650000
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Bassurelle sandbank

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 Bulwark

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 Bulwark

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