HMSM H 52 - Cornwall & Devon

The H 52 isn’t just another bit of metal on the seabed. This wreck, a B-class submarine, went down in 1928, torpedoed for a film called ‘Q Ships’. We love that story, it gives the dive a quirky historical twist. Lying at 56 metres, the boat’s still largely intact, a real hulk emerging from the gloom. You can make out the conning tower, the torpedo tubes, even the periscope shears. It’s an advanced dive, for sure, with the depth and often stiff currents, but the rewards are there. On a good day, with visibility stretching to 10 metres, the sheer scale of the H 52 is impressive. Shoals of bib dart in and out of the broken plating, while plump conger eels peer from every dark crevice. Our favourite detail is the way the soft corals have started to colonise the decks, a vibrant splash of orange and pink against the grey steel. It’s a dive for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and aren’t afraid of a bit of depth and cold water. Look for slack water if you want to explore the exterior properly; otherwise, it’s a fast drift over a fascinating piece of cinema history.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.192516, -4.287783
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
56m

Marine Protected Area: Rame 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 HMSM H 52

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 HMSM H 52

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