Isles of Scilly Diving Activities & Best Fits

Scuba

What It Feels Like

IOS Dive Charters runs Morvoren from St Martin's for qualified groups, linking signature wrecks such as MV Cita with walls, gullies and shallow Eastern Isles seal sites. The attraction is variety within a skipper-led week, not guaranteed access to a fixed checklist. HMS Colossus is a standout heritage dive, but it is separately protected and requires licensed access.

Signature Sites

Start Here

Menawethan Rocks and the Eastern Isles
Shallow rock platforms around roughly {{ 5 | distance:m }} can attract curious grey seals near high water.

Advanced

HMS Colossus Dive Trail
A licensed archaeology trail off Samson with two marked circular routes, cannon, muskets, timber and other remains from the 74gun warship lost in 1798.
MV Cita
The modern cargo ship is split into two substantial sections.
King Cadwallon
A broken coal steamer on a slope from about {{ 15 | distance:m }} to {{ 33 | distance:m }}, with boilers near {{ 28 | distance:m }}, hull ribs and colorful jewelanemone growth.

Planning Playbook

Operator Checklist

Book the charter before accommodation. IOS Dive Charters advertises five-day packages for qualified, experienced groups of up to 10 divers, so this destination works best for clubs or pre-formed buddy teams.
Send certifications, recent dive history and any depth or gas limits in advance.
Confirm cylinder type, valve, fills, weights, oxygen-clean requirements and spare-kit support.
Ask whether the group can be added to an HMS Colossus visitor licence and whether the trail is planned.
Treat MV Cita's bow and stern as different dives with different depth demands.

Conditions Fallback

Use the ferry for bulky equipment unless current Skybus or helicopter baggage allowances have been checked and reserved.

Avoid

Do not ignore atlantic transport disruption advisories from local operators.

Isles of Scilly

Isles of Scilly activity planning