WESTERGATE - Cornwall & Devon

Westergate feels like stepping back in time. This isn’t a pretty, intact wreck. It’s a merchant cruiser from 1918, torpedoed in WWI, and it lies broken across the seabed at 51 metres, a stark reminder of its violent end. The sheer scale is what gets you. Hull plates are ripped open, cargo holds splayed out, and the whole site feels incredibly exposed to the deep. We’ve dived Westergate several times, and each time we find something new. The bow section is our favourite, with its dramatic twists of metal. You can often see conger eels tucked into crevices there, their thick bodies surprisingly camouflaged against the rust. Visibility can be hit or miss in these waters, but on a good day, with a strong lamp, the wreck looms out of the green, and you get a real sense of its history. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, divers comfortable with depth and sometimes challenging conditions. It’s not about vibrant corals; it’s about the raw, haunting beauty of a wreck reclaimed by the sea.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.283928, -3.084576
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
51m

Marine Protected Area: East of Start Point

Best Time to Dive in Cornwall & Devon

The warmest water temperatures in Cornwall & Devon occur in January, averaging 9.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 9.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 9.6°C (air: 7.3°C)
  • February: 9.6°C (air: 8.4°C)
  • March: 9.6°C (air: 8.6°C)
  • April: 9.6°C (air: 10.1°C)
  • May: 9.6°C (air: 12.6°C)
  • June: 9.6°C (air: 15.2°C)
  • July: 9.6°C (air: 16.6°C)
  • August: 9.6°C (air: 17.1°C)
  • September: 9.6°C (air: 15.9°C)
  • October: 9.6°C (air: 13.5°C)
  • November: 9.6°C (air: 10.7°C)
  • December: 9.6°C (air: 8.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cornwall & Devon

Nearest Dive Centres to WESTERGATE

Marine Life in Cornwall & Devon

Home to 192 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 13 whales & dolphins, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for WESTERGATE

Based on average water temperature of 9.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 10°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories