HMS Durban - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Durban is one of those wrecks that just gets under your skin. We often talk about wrecks being ‘alive’, but the Durban really embodies it. She’s a Danae-class light cruiser, scuttled in 1947 as a target, and now she sits broken but defiant. Descending onto her, you can almost feel the history. The wreck itself is well-broken, spread across the seabed, which means there’s always something new to find. We love nosing around the debris field, where twisted metal forms new habitats. Keep an eye out for conger eels – they’re everywhere here, peering out from every nook and cranny. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with them. Plummeting into the hull sections, you’ll find schools of bib and pollack darting through the beams of your torch. It’s a great dive for anyone who appreciates the character of an older wreck and doesn't mind a bit of a treasure hunt amongst the wreckage. We'd suggest picking a slack water dive to really savour the site, though the currents can bring in some impressive pelagics too.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.345554, -0.268889
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 Durban

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 Durban

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