HMS COMET - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Comet, sitting deep at 60 metres off the Cornwall coast, is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s a decent sized anti-submarine trawler, originally built as the tug Tamura in 1934, and she went down after a collision in 1940. We love how intact she is for her age and depth. You can still make out the superstructure, and her triple expansion engine is a fantastic sight, usually draped in plumose anemones, their tentacles swaying gently in the subtle current. Dropping down, the visibility here can be temperamental, but when it’s good, the light penetrating from above creates this eerie, beautiful blue glow over the deck. We’ve often found dogfish tucked into crevices and ling patrolling the deeper sections. It’s a serious dive, absolutely, but for experienced technical divers, the Comet offers a genuine sense of history and some truly impressive engineering to explore. We always suggest aiming for slack water, or just after, for the best chance of a relaxed dive around her.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.096700, -4.952933
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
60m

Marine Protected Area: Carricknath Point to Porthbean Beach

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 COMET

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 COMET

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