HMS MAROJAM

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Castlemartin Coast

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - HMS MAROJAM offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The HMS Marojam, or what’s left of her anyway, is a great dive for when the weather turns a bit frisky in Bigbury Bay. She was an Anchusa-class sloop, meant to be renamed the President and become a drill ship, but fate had other plans back in 1921. Now, she’s well broken up, scattered across the seabed at around 12 meters, but that’s precisely her charm. We love how accessible she is, even when there's a bit of swell. You’re not getting a grand, intact wreck, but you are getting a proper archaeological dive, exploring her ribs and plating that are now home to a surprising amount of life. Look closely among the twisted metal for the vibrant jewel anemones, they’re everywhere, adding splashes of orange and pink to the otherwise muted tones. You’ll often find dogfish tucked into the sand nearby, and sometimes a curious grey seal might even come to investigate. It’s a shallower dive, making for longer bottom times, and it’s a brilliant spot for honing wreck penetration skills on the smaller, more open sections without feeling too committing. Our pick for a slightly breezy afternoon.