NEW VENTURE - Cornwall & Devon

The New Venture, a 12.8m fishing vessel, went down on New Year’s Eve, 1978. It's not a deep dive, sitting at 11 metres, which means plenty of bottom time for a good explore. This wreck is surprisingly intact for its age and location, offering a real sense of its former life. We love pushing into the wheelhouse, though it’s a tight squeeze, and seeing the winch gear still largely in place. What really makes the New Venture special for us is how it's become a home for the locals. You’ll find squat lobsters in every crevice, plump wrasse darting in and out of the deck plating, and often some decent-sized pollack lurking in the gloom. The visibility here can be hit-or-miss, typical for the UK, but on a good day, the light filtering through the superstructure is quite atmospheric. It’s an ideal site for those wanting to get comfortable with wreck penetration on a smaller scale, or just enjoy a relaxed rummage around a piece of local history. We’d suggest timing your dive for slack water to truly appreciate its character without fighting a current.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.655586, -1.029793
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
11m

Marine Protected Area: Whitecliff Bay and Bembridge Ledges

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 NEW VENTURE

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 NEW VENTURE

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