MONTE MORO

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Hele, Samson's and Combe Martin Bays

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) - MONTE MORO 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 14m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Monte Moro is one of those wrecks that just keeps giving, even at its shallow depth. We love how the steamship has settled, broken but not scattered, making it perfect for a leisurely explore. Dropping down, you'll spot the two huge boilers first, standing proud from the seabed like silent sentinels. They’re a real magnet for schooling pollack, often so thick you can barely see the metal underneath. Our favourite part is poking around the bow and stern sections; the holds are still surprisingly intact. You’ll weave through the metal skeleton, often finding velvet swimming crabs scuttling in the shadows or conger eels peeking out from behind a twisted beam. It’s a shallow dive, maxing out at 14m, so your bottom time feels generous, letting you really soak in the history and the marine life that has made this iron hulk its home. Look for the way the light filters through the broken plates on a sunny day – it’s quite ethereal. We'd suggest going on a slack tide for the best visibility; a gentle current can kick up a bit of sediment, but it’s rarely strong enough to be an issue.