KERLOCH

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Castlemartin Coast

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - KERLOCH offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 13m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Kerloch is a fantastic little wreck, especially if you’re into poking around something that still feels like a boat rather than just a pile of rubble. She went down in 2010 after her skipper dozed off and nudged her onto Crow Rock. We think that relatively recent sinking means she’s still very much intact, sitting upright in about 13 metres of water. It’s a great depth for longer bottom times and really soaking it all in. You'll spend your dive exploring the wheelhouse, which is still largely there, and peering into what's left of the engine room. The wooden hull has started to break down, but the ribs give it a wonderfully skeletal feel, creating loads of nooks for small crabs and blennies. We've seen dogfish tucked away in the sand around her, and schools of pollack often hang above the mast. Visibility can be a bit hit-or-miss, as with most sites in the area, but on a good day, the light plays beautifully through the wreck. It's an ideal spot for newer wreck divers or photographers wanting to capture that classic ghost ship vibe.