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From Brixham:
Wreck
Dives
The
Bretagne
(28m) 232ft, long sunk
in 1918 by being rammed by another ship
(you can see the gouge in the starboard
side). Sits upright and generally intact
on a shell bottom. There is some superstructure
remaining, its prop & rudder in place,
with a spare prop on the stern deck. The
holds offer some nice penetrations for divers
suitably qualified (but beware snagged fishing
line). Lots of life is attracted to this
wreck, including; pollack, pouting, wrasse,
bass, tompot- blenny, conger, ling, crab
and lobster. A first-class dive, indeed
Torbay’s signature dive.
The
Galicia
(17m) 400ft long, hit a
mine in 1917, then “dispersed” in 1923.
As a result she is fairly flat despite coming
up to 5m proud of the bottom, but is a large
site and a nice dive. Well worth a good
rummage, still “ship shaped” bits to see,
various things are still on her (although
ideally not removed). Lots of congers, pollack,
usual pout, wrasse etc.
The
Perrone
(32m) 320ft long, torpedoed
by UC-65 in 1917. An interesting dive as
the wreck lies in 2 halves, with the stern
section lying alongside the starboard side,
can be difficult to see the whole wreck
on one dive. Some nice swim-throughs on
this wreck.
The
Lord Stewart
(38m) 248ft long, torpedoed
by UB-104 in 1918. Stands 9m proud and has
an iron prop and small stern gun. Warning:
phosphorous wedges have been found on the
wreck, do NOT remove as they ignite in contact
with air!!!
The
Dudley Rose
(37m) 250ft long, sunk
by Heinkel 111k stick bombs in 1941. Lies
upright and complete, 6m proud of the bottom.
Care must be taken as some trawl nets have
caught on this wreck.
The
Dutch Barge
(8m) Locally known as
“The Pipes”, the barge isn’t there but it’s
cargo of 20ft iron pipes are. A nice scenic/wreck
dive, vast varieties of life living in and
around the pipes, a great macro photography
site. Usually good viz.
The
Gefion
(35m) 1123 ton steamer, torpedoed
amidships by UB-40 in 1917. The wreck comes
up nearly 10m from the bottom, and is dog-legged
and broken amidships. Engines, boilers,
ships name on stern and good fish life to
be seen.
The
Dutch Tug
(15m) 75ft steam powered
tug boat sitting upright and intact 5m proud
of the sea bed with pouting, conger and
pollack to be seen.
Scenic
Dives: 
The
Ore Stone.
(5-20m) Torbay’s biggest
& most prominent rock. Lots of rocky
gullies leading to a muddy bottom, or there
is a swim through where you can swim right
through the Ore Stone! Fairly high energy
site, good for life, lots of crabs (various
makes), lobsters, fish, mussels, starfish,
anemones, dead men’s fingers, nudibranchs
etc. congers, wrasse, pollack, pout, bass
etc.
Thatcher
Rock.
(5-15m) Torbay’s second prominent
rock. In contrast to the Ore Stone, Thatcher
is a medium/low energy site giving completely
different types of life that prefer these
conditions. Again rocky gullies leading
to a silt/mud seabed.
Morris
Rogue.
(2-13m) A pinnacle the rises
from the mud/silt bottom. A low energy site
with good life; plumose anemones, starfish,
crabs, plaice, pollack. There is an interesting
reef that can be followed to Thatcher Rock.
The
Ridge.
(12m) A large rocky reef
with dabs, plaice, crabs, scallops, lobster
to see. A very under-rated dive.
Berry
Head.
(5-40m) The headland marking
the end of Lyme Bay. 60m cliffs leading
down to the water. Here there are huge boulders
and ridges leading down to mud/slit slopes
to a dark 40m+, although the best life is
in less than 20m. This site is a mixture
of high to low energy giving a great variety
of life. This starts as soon as you hit
the water with garfish, mackerel & pollack
in mid water, on the rocks various anemones,
crabs, lobsters, flat fish, wrasse, congers,
etc. This dive can even begin with a great
swim through!
Cod
Rock.
(3-25m) Similar in life characteristics
to Berry Head. Although some nice drifts
can be had, you can also swim around the
rock itself (there are various small caves,
and a swim through, if you can find it!),
or head for “Bastard Rocks” between Cod
Rock and the cliffs.
Mudstone
Ledges.
(3-20m) A rocky pinnacle
that comes up from the sea bed at 12m up
to 3m. The tide will then take you to around
20m on a comfortable drift. Two different
dives in one. Starting on the rocky pinnacle
with crabs, lobster, wrasse and pollack,
then drifting on to the mud ledges with
flatfish, dogfish and scallops.
click
below to view
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