WESTERN BELLE - Cornwall & Devon

The Western Belle, what a site. Not deep, just 12 metres, but it’s one of those wrecks that just keeps giving, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates right down. We love popping in here for a relaxed second dive, or for photographers who want to spend some real time getting those perfect shots without worrying about deco. She’s a barge, sunk in 1922 after catching fire, and you can still make out the outline surprisingly well. The ribs stand proud, draped in dead man’s fingers that sway gently in the surge, and the stern section is particularly intact. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here – conger eels peering out from beneath plating, spider crabs scuttling across the deck, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a big John Dory ghosting past. The visibility can vary, as with any site in the Channel, but on a good day, it’s like diving in an overgrown underwater garden, with the wreck providing the structure for all that life. Look for the small stuff too, nudibranchs cling to the kelp fronds all over the site.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.481224, -2.632444
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
12m

Marine Protected Area: Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 WESTERN BELLE

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 WESTERN BELLE

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