WELBURY

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Marsland to 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) - WELBURY 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

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Welbury is a proper journey back in time, a really solid wreck dive off Cornwall. We always appreciate a wreck that tells a story, and this one, built in 1882, has been down since 1900. It's not a site for absolute beginners, but if you’re comfortable with a bit of depth and colder water, you’ll love it. What we really enjoy here is the sheer scale of the Welbury. At nearly 80 metres long, there's a good chunk of hull and superstructure still standing proud, making for some excellent penetration opportunities if you’re qualified and careful. You can often see the massive boilers, hulking reminders of its steam-powered past, and the single shaft is usually identifiable. Light filters through cracks and openings, illuminating big pollock and conger eels that have made homes in the deeper recesses. Look closely for nudibranchs on the encrusted metalwork, and we’ve often seen spider crabs scuttling amongst the plates. Visibility can be a bit variable, as it often is in the UK, but on a good day, the structure looms impressively from the green gloom. Our top tip? Dive this one on a slack tide; the currents can pick up, making it a much less enjoyable experience if you get caught out.