HMS OSWALDIAN - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Oswaldian offers a real taste of history, sitting upright and surprisingly intact in just ten metres of water. We love a shallow wreck, especially when it’s this complete. You can trace the trawler’s lines, nose around the bow where a chain locker gapes open, and explore right back to the stern. While her superstructure is long gone, the hull is a busy apartment block for plumose anemones, their feathery tentacles swaying in the gentle surge. Look for squat lobsters tucked into every nook and cranny, and fat conger eels peering from deeper recesses. It’s a perfect site for newer wreck divers or those wanting a relaxed second dive, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates right to the seabed, illuminating the rust and the vibrant life. We’d suggest hitting it around slack water for the best visibility; the current can kick up a bit of a silty cloud otherwise.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.321000, -3.276217
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
10m

Marine Protected Area: Barry Island

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 OSWALDIAN

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 OSWALDIAN

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