YOUNG CLIFFORD

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

North West of Lundy

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) - YOUNG CLIFFORD 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 54m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Diving the Young Clifford is like stepping back into a moment of naval history, a truly poignant wreck off the Cornish coast. We particularly love the raw, untamed feel of this site. She’s a decent sized trawler, sunk by gunfire from a German submarine in 1917, and sits upright at 54 metres. The triple-expansion engine is still very much intact and exposed, a massive piece of machinery that’s surprisingly dramatic as it looms out of the low visibility. Our favourite part has to be the single boiler, it’s a huge, cylindrical structure that now hosts an impressive amount of plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying gently in the subtle current, like a ghostly carpet. We’ve also seen some colossal conger eels here, tucked away in the darker recesses of the wreck. It’s a deep dive, definitely one for experienced divers comfortable with technical profiles and cooler water. Don't expect tropical colours, but the sheer historical weight and the hardy life clinging to her steel make it a truly memorable experience.