HMS PICTON CASTLE - Cornwall & Devon

The HMS Picton Castle, resting at 33 metres, is a proper chunk of maritime history and one of our favourite deeper wrecks off the Cornish coast. She was a trawler pressed into service by the Royal Navy, and her demise in 1917, likely by a U-boat mine, feels present when you’re down there. The bow is particularly striking, rising from the seabed, and we’ve spent many a dive just tracing the outline of her deck, imagining her working life before the war. The wreck is now heavily colonised, a testament to the North Atlantic’s resilience. We often spot conger eels in the deeper sections, their heads poking out from crevices. Look for lobsters tucked into the plating and the constant movement of bib and pollock around the superstructure. It’s a site that suits experienced divers comfortable with depth and who appreciate exploring a wreck with a real story. The visibility can be fickle, as is common in these waters, but on a good day, the Picton Castle delivers a genuinely atmospheric dive. We’d suggest timing your dive for slack water; the currents here can be robust.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.306534, -3.537817
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
33m

Marine Protected Area: Slapton Ley

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 PICTON CASTLE

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 PICTON CASTLE

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