HMS VENERABLE - Cornwall & Devon

HMS Venerable isn't about depth; it's about history you can touch, right there in the shallows. We love it for how accessible it is, though "accessible" here means a careful approach to a truly broken wreck. You're looking at remnants of a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line, sunk in 1804. What's left are scattered timbers, ribs, and hull plating, all heavily concreted and draped in kelp and sea squirts. Diving Venerable is a low-visibility affair, often a green haze, but that only adds to the atmosphere. We'd suggest a calm day with a higher tide to get the most out of it. Look closely among the wreckage for the resident wrasse, pollock, and conger eels that have made these broken bones their home. It’s a site for those who appreciate maritime archaeology and don't mind getting up close and personal with the seabed to piece together a story. You'll feel the drag of the mild current, see the ghostly shapes emerge, and maybe even imagine the chaos of its final moments.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.428352, -3.551062
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
3m

Marine Protected Area: Roundham Head

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 VENERABLE

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 VENERABLE

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