HMS RECOIL (STERN SECTION)(PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Okay, so the HMS Recoil, or at least what we’re pretty sure is her stern section, is a proper deep dive off the Cornwall coast. You're dropping onto a piece of wartime history down at 48 metres. We love it because it’s a tangible link to 1940, a former German trawler, the *Balnkenburg*, pressed into Royal Navy service only to hit a mine just a few months later. You’ll find an upright stern section, surprisingly intact for its age and depth. Visibility here can be hit or miss, but on a good day, the silhouette emerges from the gloom, draped in plumose anemones. Look for conger eels peering from the deeper recesses and schools of pouting swarming the edges. It’s a serious decompression dive, best suited for experienced trimix divers who appreciate the sombre history and the peace of a wreck that sees few visitors. Our favourite time to dive it is late summer, when the thermocline pushes down and the surface conditions are usually calmer, giving you a better shot at a smooth ascent.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.440216, -2.735600
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
48m

Marine Protected Area: South of Portland

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 RECOIL (STERN SECTION)(PROBABLY)

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 RECOIL (STERN SECTION)(PROBABLY)

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