SPHENE
Protected Area
Wight-Barfleur Reef
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) - SPHENE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Sphene wreck, sitting at 50 metres, is a proper technical dive off the Cornwall and Devon coast. She was a steamship, sunk by explosives from a German submarine in 1916, and the damage from that event is still visible. We’ve found her pretty broken up, but you can still pick out the bow and stern sections, with a lot of twisted metalwork in between. It's a sombre, historical dive, with dogfish often lurking in the debris and plenty of anemones colouring the structural remains. This one's for experienced wreck divers comfortable with deeper profiles and potentially strong currents; you'll want good visibility to appreciate the scale.
Typical SPHENE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 50m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to SPHENE
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for SPHENE
SPHENE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for SPHENE, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (50.44, -2.73) (3km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
17°C
62°F · Range: 15.1–17.5°C
Air Temperature
13°C
56°F
Wind Speed
8.14 m/s
15.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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