HMS MONTAGUE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Lundy

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 MONTAGUE 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 · max 20m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

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.