HMS Association

Best time to dive

May to September

Certification & difficulty

Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Not a snorkel site

Safety notes

Protected wreck site with restricted/licensed access only; exposed Atlantic swell and surge; strong currents around the Western Rocks; remote location far from immediate safety cover; entanglement risk among iron wreckage

Permits & fees

Yes - designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, administered by Historic England; recreational access is only via a licensed visitor scheme - the small number of licensed Scilly dive charter operators hold annual licenses allowing customers to dive the site under supervision; independent/unlicensed diving is not permitted

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: St Mary's