HMS Havant - Cornwall & Devon

Diving the HMS Havant is less about a riot of colour and more about a quiet, haunting beauty. This G-class destroyer, sunk in 1939, sits upright and largely intact, a sombre memorial on the seabed. We love picking out the skeletal remains of her deck guns, the torpedo tubes, and the bridge structure – it’s like stepping back in time, seeing the ship’s purpose frozen underwater. The Havant typically offers good visibility, especially through late summer and autumn, letting light filter down and illuminate the wrasse darting in and out of the superstructure. Ling often hide in the darker recesses, and you’ll spot dogfish resting on the sand nearby. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the way the sea reclaims its own, best suited to divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and a bit of current, which can sometimes sweep across the site. The sheer scale of the wreck, with plenty to penetrate for the experienced, is what truly makes this site a standout.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.133335, 2.263611
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Foreland

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 Havant

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 Havant

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