SPITAL
Protected Area
The Manacles
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) - SPITAL offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The SPITAL is a deep dive, sitting at 59m, so it’s one for the experienced wreck divers with the right training. This steamship met its end in 1918, torpedoed by U-93, and now lies largely intact on the seabed off the Cornwall coast. At 119m long, there’s plenty to explore, with much of its structure still recognisable despite over a century underwater. We’ve found the bow and stern sections particularly interesting, often covered in dead man’s fingers and home to some hefty conger eels in the deeper crevices. Visibility can vary, as with most UK wreck sites, but on a good day, the scale of the SPITAL is genuinely impressive.
Typical SPITAL 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 59m 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 SPITAL
Dive shops near SPITAL
Porthkerris Divers
DiveUK
Seaways Diving
Karleyth Diving Ltd.
Viewpoint Diving Centre
Wavecrest Scuba
Reviews for SPITAL
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for SPITAL
SPITAL Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for SPITAL, 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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