RENOWN

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Southerndown 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) - RENOWN 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 15m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Renown sits about two miles southeast of Porthcawl Gas Buoy, a ketch that went down back in 1926. It's a proper piece of history, built in Bideford way back in 1856, then finally lost while sailing from Bridgewater to Dublin after a heavy squall ripped off her mizzen mast. We love a wreck with a story, and Renown has a good one. At 15 metres, it’s a friendly depth for most divers, and while the wreck itself is well-broken, you can still make out the distinct shape of a wooden sailing vessel, with ribs and planks scattered across the seabed. When you drop down, the first thing you notice is the way light filters through the green water, often quite moody, giving the whole site a wonderfully atmospheric feel. We’ve spent hours here, meticulously picking through the debris, finding old fittings, and imagining her final moments. Conger eels are often found tucked into the larger sections, and pollack will dart around the masts, which are now just stumps on the seabed. It’s not a site for big schools of fish, but rather for those who appreciate the quiet history of a lost ship and the small, resilient life that colonises it. If you’re into gentle exploration and a bit of maritime archaeology, Renown is our pick for a dive that offers a real connection to the past.