HMS MONTAGUE - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Montague isn’t your classic intact wreck, no, but we love it for its sheer scale and the history you feel in the water. We’re talking about a battleship, nearly 125 meters long, that ran aground in dense fog off Lundy Island back in 1906. What you dive today are the scattered remains, truly distributed, which means you get to explore a wide debris field rather than a single, upright structure. Diving the Montague is like sifting through the bones of a giant. You’ll find huge sections of hull plating, twisted girders, and machinery parts, all completely colonised by an incredible array of marine life. We’ve finned past enormous conger eels peeking out from beneath iron plates and watched vibrant jewel anemones coat almost every surface, transforming the wreck into a living reef. Visibility can be a typical UK affair, so aim for slack tide on a neap to really appreciate the scale. Our favourite part is navigating the bigger sections, imagining the ship whole, then finding a surprise, like a propeller blade or part of an engine, half-buried in the sand. It’s a proper archaeological dive, best suited for those who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a hunt amongst the kelp and currents. You’ll get a real sense of the power of the sea here.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.156185, -4.671800
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

Marine Protected Area: Lundy

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 MONTAGUE

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 MONTAGUE

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