NANSET - Cornwall & Devon

Nanset, off the Cornish coast, is one of those sites we keep coming back to, despite its shallow depth. It’s a steamship, gone down in 1916, and what remains is wonderfully broken up. You’re not getting grand intact structures here; instead, it's a scatter of plates, ribs, and machinery parts, all jumbled together on a sandy seabed just a meter or so deep. We love Nanset for its accessibility and the way it shows marine life reclaiming history. You can spend a good hour just finning slowly over the debris, spotting blennies peeking from rust holes, crabs scuttling under bent metal, and often schools of juvenile pollock darting through the clearer patches. The light penetration is always fantastic, even on an overcast day, turning the rusted browns and greens of the wreck into a surprisingly colourful tapestry. Our favourite time to dive it is around high slack tide, when the surge drops off and visibility really opens up, letting you appreciate the delicate sponges and anemones that have taken hold. It’s a perfect site for photographers wanting to practice macro work in natural light, or for newer divers looking for a relaxed wreck experience without the pressures of depth or strong currents. Just watch out for stray fishing lines; it’s a working coast, after all.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.542120, -4.145613
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

Marine Protected Area: Great Tor (Three Cliff Bay)

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 NANSET

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 NANSET

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