The Porthkerris Dive Centre is located on the east coast of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall and is one of the best-known dive centres in the south-west of England. Its sheltered position in Porthkerris Bay offers good conditions for training, shore dives and boat trips.
The centre has its own slipway, filling station, rental equipment and on-site accommodation. Because of the sheltered bay, dives are often possible even when other stretches of coast are more difficult to access due to the weather. The centre caters to both beginners and experienced divers.
Shark experiences – snorkelling with whale sharks and blue sharks
Porthkerris is particularly known for its seasonal trips to whale sharks and blue sharks. Important:
These are snorkelling trips only – there is no diving with these sharks.
Whale sharks
In late spring and early summer, whale sharks can be observed off the coast of Cornwall. These plankton-eating animals often stay near the surface. Encounters take place from the boat or while snorkelling at the surface.
Because whale sharks usually swim very calmly and remain at the surface, snorkelling is the most suitable and gentlest way to observe them.
Blue sharks
In summer, offshore tours are offered where blue sharks are attracted and can be observed from the boat. Here too, entry is only with snorkelling equipment in open water.
Scuba diving is not offered on these trips, as the sharks mainly remain near the surface and the safety concept is designed for snorkel encounters.
Diving around Porthkerris
Apart from the shark snorkelling tours, the dive centre offers classic shore and boat dives. The region is known for:
- Rocky reefs with dense growths of kelp and algae
- Anemone fields and sponges
- Crabs, lobsters and sea spiders
- Wolffish and occasionally ocean sunfish
- Various wrecks at different depths
The dive sites range from shallow, sheltered bay entries to more challenging offshore wrecks. Water temperatures are, by UK standards, rather cool, so dry suits are often used.
Thanks to its sheltered location, Porthkerris is particularly well suited to training dives, check dives and relaxed explorations of British cold-water marine life. At the same time, the offshore trips offer experienced divers a variety of opportunities.
