USS PT 509

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Jersey 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) - USS PT 509 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 12m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The USS PT 509 is a proper piece of history, just off the coast and sitting in a surprisingly shallow 12 metres. We love how accessible it is, even for newer divers getting their fins wet on wrecks. This isn't some vast liner, it's a patrol boat, and you can really get a sense of its scale, imagining the cramped quarters. When we're down there, the story of its sinking, ramming a German minesweeper in the fog, really hits home. What's left of the PT 509 is pretty spread out, thanks to that explosion. You’ll weave through scattered sections of hull plating, twisted metal, and machinery, all now completely encrusted with plumose anemones and dead man's fingers. Our favourite part is searching for the smaller artefacts, bits of pottery or tools that sometimes reveal themselves from under a frond of kelp. It’s a great site for photographers who enjoy macro, picking out the blennies and gobies that shelter in every nook and cranny. Visibility can vary, as with any UK site, but on a good day, the light plays beautifully through the remaining structure. It’s not about grand swim-throughs here, it's about connecting with a specific moment in time and seeing how nature reclaims things.