MSC NAPOLI (STERN SECTION) - Cornwall & Devon
The MSC Napoli's stern section is a proper diver's playground, and honestly, one of our favourite UK wreck dives. We love how relatively shallow it sits, around 15 metres, which means decent bottom time even if the viz isn't playing ball. Dropping down onto it, you can still feel the sheer scale of this container ship, even just this piece of it. You'll find yourself navigating through mangled steel plates, massive propellor blades, and the rudder, all now home to an impressive collection of Devon's marine life. Expect to see plump wrasse darting between crevices, spider crabs scuttling over the structure, and if you’re patient, conger eels peeking out from darker corners. Our top tip: aim for a slack tide dive; the currents here can be a bit lively. It's a fantastic site for anyone who enjoys exploring a modern wreck and seeing how nature reclaims these colossal structures.
- Location
- Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 50.677000, -3.164833
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 15m
Marine Protected Area: Sidmouth to Beer Coast
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
- 12 - 49m (wreck)
- 20 - 5m (wreck)
- A2 - 1m (wreck)
- AALESUND (POSSIBLY) - 37m (wreck)
- ABRAHAM COVE - 56m (wreck)
- ACADIAN - 34m (wreck)
- ACADIAN - 38m (wreck)
- ACHIEVEMENT - 6m (wreck)
- ACTIVE - 27m (wreck)
- ADA - 40m (wreck)
- ADA MARY - 2m (wreck)
- ADDAX - 52m (wreck)
- ADOLF VINNEN - 1m (wreck)
- ADON - 0m (wreck)
- ADUR II - 11m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to MSC NAPOLI (STERN SECTION)
- Abyss Scuba School - ["PADI"]
- Andark Diving - ["PADI"]
- Aquanaut Scuba & Snorkelling Centre Ltd - ["PADI"]
- Berkshire Divecrew Training 2012 Ltd. - ["PADI"]
- Bouley Bay Dive Centre
- Celtic Deep
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
- Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) - Whales & Dolphins
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
- Bastard Sole (Microchirus variegatus) - Reef Fish
- harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- solenette (Buglossidium luteum) - Reef Fish
- Sand mason (Lanice conchilega) - Worms
- Scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) - Reef Fish
- Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Angler (Lophius piscatorius) - Reef Fish
- Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Devonshire cup coral (Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii) - Hard Corals
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
Recommended Packing List for MSC NAPOLI (STERN SECTION)
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