POLBRAE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Tintagel-Marsland-Clovelly Coast

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) - POLBRAE 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 33m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Polbrae sits deep, a proper dive at 33 metres, and she’s our pick for a rewarding wreck experience off the Cornish coast. Dropping down, the visibility here often surprises, sometimes pushing past 10 metres, allowing you to really appreciate the scale of this 71-metre steamship. We love how intact she is for a WWI casualty, torpedoed back in 1918; the bow section still holds its shape, and you can make out the anchor chains snaking towards the seabed. Exploring the Polbrae feels like stepping into history. Swim past the cargo holds, now home to plump conger eels that peer out from the gloom, or spot schools of pout darting between the deck plates. There are often jewel anemones clinging to the darker recesses, tiny explosions of colour in the ambient light. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, those who appreciate the quiet dignity of a vessel reclaimed by the sea. Pick a day with minimal swell for the best conditions; it makes the descent much more comfortable.