An excellent novice dive site or second dive. It is usual to get in the water next to Tide Teller rock and swim North and then West around Cataclews Point, and then send up a DSMB and be picked up by the boat. Max depth is around 14m. We would expect to see Lobsters, Edible Crabs, Spider Crabs, Velvet Swimming Crabs, TomPot Blennies, Peacock Worms, Ballan Wrasse, Pollack, Leopard Gobies. Often we see Congers, Dog Fish, Bass, Mullet, Sea Bream, Cuttlefish

As site is sheltered from the general swell it can often be dived when all else is blown out. It takes 15 mins by boat to reach

A spectacular reef dive with large deep gullies. Usually done as a drift dive but for more novice divers can be dived at slack which is  high or low water. Depth can be chosen between 15 and 32 metres though on a strong tide it is possible to be pushed towards the deeper edge.

This site has one of the most amazing colonies of Pink Sea Fans, some several metres in height. The wildlife trust says they are rare- not here they not.

We would expect to see Lobsters, Edible Crabs, Spider Crabs, Velvet Swimming Crabs, TomPot Blennies, Peacock Worms, Ballan Wrasse, Pollack, Leopard Gobies. Often we see Congers, Dog Fish, Bass, Mullet, Sea Bream, Cuttlefish and various hard and soft corals and sponges.

We also find a lot of bullets and shell cases from Hurricane fighters as the island was used for target practice in the last war.

It takes about 10 mins by boat to reach.

An excellent novice dive site or second dive. This site can be shore dived or boat dived. The site is on the East side of the inlet around the small island at the end of The Main. We usually put the divers in at the entrance to the gully (The Gut) between the headland (The Main) and the Island, the Gut is full of life but can sometimes have a strong surge if any swell is running.

We would expect to see Lobsters, Edible Crabs, Spider Crabs, Velvet Swimming Crabs, TomPot Blennies, Peacock Worms, Ballan Wrasse, Pollack, Leopard Gobies. Often we see Congers, Dog Fish, Bass, Mullet, Sea Bream, Cuttlefish and various hard and soft corals and sponges.

Max depth is around 14m and can be dived at any state of tide. It is reasonably sheltered from the South West winds, but West through to North East is exposed.

A relatively modern wreck (mid 70’s) well broken up but still interesting. It positioned near the entrance to Port Isaac (as in Doc Martin). Max depth is 14m and it is usual to enter the water on the wreck and have a good poke around the plating and metal then to follow the reef westwards where some interesting swim through’s and gullies can be found. You would then deploy a DSMB and be picked up by the boat.

The normal array of life is to be seen.

Our most popular wreck, 22m low water and 28m high. She is positioned 1 ½ miles out from Port Quin and takes about 10 - 15mins by boat. Relatively intact, the bows stand up with the chain still on top (roof was ripped of by a trawl some years ago) and you can see the damage where in 1947 she hit the Mouls (Puffin Island). Mid ships she has collapsed down and to the starboard side but plenty of holes where congers can be seen. Towards the stern you reach a bulkhead and then the single boiler, behind which you find the steam engine which is now split between 2 cylinders. Part of the engine room roof still overhangs and the stern is fairly intact with the hand rail still in place. Swim around the stern and you find the rudder and propeller.

The wreck is usually festooned in life, in fact after a dive in near 20m of vis the divers said to me that ‘vis was crap’- too many fish. Congers, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse, giant Pollack, Bib, whiting and crabs, lobsters are always to be seen. From time to time we also see trigger fish and angler fish and John Dory. The Sphene must be dived at slack which is 1 hour after high or low Newquay

Near to the entrance to Port Quin lies 2 rocks- Cow and Calf. This is an excellent 2^nd dive with plenty to see. Not deep, around 10m depending on tide, it can be dived at any state of tide. It takes 10 -15 mins to reach by boat. It has the usual array of life in abundance.

Closest wreck to our launch site at Rock. She was carrying scrap iron and old engine blocks when overwhelmed by the sea. Although much of the ships hull has corroded away she still holds a ships shape as all the cargo has concreted together. From the engine room back it is now missing after a mishap during salvage in the 70’s blew up a torpedo she was carrying. Quite a small wreck you can go around it several times, but look out for some huge congers and often Trigger Fish plus the usual array of life. 15m low water and 20m high water means open water/ ocean divers can dive this wreck, slack being near to high or low water Newquay. Takes 5 -10 mins by boat.

An excellent not too deep wreck, positioned against the Quies, the islands a mile or so off Trevose Head. Max 22 m and very tidal, she must be dived on slack which is high or low water Newquay plus a few minutes and only last a short time. DSMBs are a must so not a novice dive but ok if with an experienced diver.

The ship was fairly large and you can see 2 large boilers standing on end, the rest is well broken but extensive. Site has little protection from waves and weather so can only be dived in calm seas ideally on neap tides. Takes 20- 25 mins by boat.

One of my personal favourites this wreck was a u-boat torpedo casualty. She lies in 30 m low water so is not a novice dive. Must be dived on slack which is 1 hour after high or low Newquay. The stern still has rudder and iron prop in place. The ship between stern and Boilers has fallen to the starboard side. At the boilers she opens up, engine is still inside wreckage. Forwards she has broken up and flattened until you reach the bows where the winch gear can be seen. As usual congers can always be seen along with a variety of fish life. Port holes can still be found as can other bits of brass. Takes 20-25 mins by boat.

A lovely shallowish reef dive- max 15-20 m, also the site of the wreck Maria Assumpta which was a wooden sailing vessel (Tall Ship) that hit the rocks early summer 1998 (I think). There is little to nothing left of the wreck now however it is still a very nice dive with plenty of life. Best dived on an incoming tide as this assists with the swim eastwards. DSMB a must. There is also some wreckage (metal plating) around the entrance to Seven Souls Cove where most divers surface. Usually plenty of crab and lobster to be seen. Takes 5-10 mins by boat.

Trevose head is a very exposed site but nonetheless interesting dive. Over the years large boulders as big as houses have fallen into the sea from the high cliffs making for a very rocky reef dive. Life is not as prolific as some sites but it is very scenic in its own way. Depths are from 15 -20 m, shallower if you stay close to the headland. Although it will have a tide a strange phenomena causes the water closer to the headland here to move more slowly or even be still. Weather needs to be calm with no significant swell. It takes 20 mins by boat.

The Germaine is a second world war casualty and lies in 40m low water. She is well collapsed only the boilers and engine stand high. Prop is in place and you can easily follow prop shaft back to the engine. At the bows there are several boxes of anti air craft heads but I have not yet found any shell cases though they must be there. Port holes are still found from time to time. Takes 15 mins by boat.

A really nice shallow reef sheltered from the worst of any south westerlies it can be dived at any state of tide in a max depth of 12m -15m. It is full of life some of it exceptionally large, star fish 2ft across! As it is a nearly circular reef surrounded by sand navigation is simple- stay on reef. It makes an ideal 2^nd dive or novice dive, not a bad one for letting newly qualified divers of the leash for the first time! On this site I once saw Trigger fish the size of a dustbin lid wriggle into a crack in a rock and lock themselves in with their triggers- hence the name! There are also several gullies/swim through’s. It takes less than 5 mins from Newquay harbour

A slightly deeper reef not far from Newquay (about 5- 10 mins) in max 22 m low water, ideally dived at slack -1 hour after high or low. It has a pinnacle shaped like a witches hat that comes up from 22 m to 8m with a vertical wall on the north east side covered in pink sea fans (rare so they say) We would normally dive around this wall, head seaward until reef meets sand and then return to the wall and head landwards until air supply on reserve. DSMB required. Around the wall it is a congregation point for some large Pollock, Bass etc

The Syracusa sank in a storm in 1898 with the loss of all on board. She is in 30m low water and is starting to break up. She is about a 5 -10 min boat ride from Newquay and needs diving at slack which is about 1 hour after high or low Newquay. Wreck has plenty of life and is a good introduction to the 30m range of diving.

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This is by no means the limit of diving on the North Coast of Cornwall but gives a good selection for those who have not dived here before, I have also followed with a quick list of some other sites but no description, generally to be dived 1 hour after high/low Newquay depth quoted low water.

To date this year we have dived 21 DIFFERENT  wrecks in North Cornwall with loads more still to do