PHILOTIS - Cornwall & Devon

The Philotis isn’t a shallow splash, so bring your deep cert and good gas management. This 122-metre steamship, sunk in 1940, lies upright at 49 metres, a vast, dark shape rising out of the seabed. We love the sheer scale of her; you can spend an entire dive exploring the bow, then come back to spend another on the stern. The twin boilers are still prominent, standing proud and offering plenty of nooks for conger eels to eye you from. Her triple-expansion engine is also quite something to behold. We’ve seen huge shoals of pouting hanging off the mast structure, and the deck plates are often covered in jewel anemones, a pop of colour against the muted steel. Drop onto her on a calm day with good visibility, and you’ll find yourself truly immersed in history. It's a proper wreck diver's dive, challenging but immensely rewarding.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.616585, -5.153767
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
49m

Marine Protected Area: Arfordir Penrhyn Angle / Angle Peninsula 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

Nearest Dive Centres to PHILOTIS

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 PHILOTIS

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