MAKESHIFT (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The *Makeshift* is one of those sites that just oozes history, the kind you feel rather than just read about. Sunk way back in 1592, this 70-ton pinnace is a proper time capsule, thought to have gone down in rough weather en route to Brittany. Dropping down onto her feels like stepping back into the Elizabethan era; you can almost hear the creak of timber. The wreck itself is around 18 metres long, mostly broken up now, but the sheer age makes it fascinating. We love how the structure, what's left of it, has been completely taken over by the sea. You'll spend your dive exploring the scattered timbers, imagining the seven to nine cannons she once carried. It’s not about penetration here, more about the atmosphere and the incredible sense of history. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of resident critters – lobsters tucked into crevices, velvet swimming crabs scuttling over the wood, and wrasse darting between the frames. This site is definitely for divers who appreciate the story behind the dive, for those who find beauty in the old and the wild rather than just intact structures. It’s a dive that makes you think.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.737200, -2.165800
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

Marine Protected Area: Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 MAKESHIFT (POSSIBLY)

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 MAKESHIFT (POSSIBLY)

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