A Summer at Porthkerris

When I was about to start my professional placement year for my BA in Marine and

Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, I knew I wanted to dive, literally,

into the marine world. I’d seen an advert on Instagram about Dive Master internships

at Porthkerris Divers in Cornwall, and it immediately caught my attention.

After chatting with the university dive team, who encouraged me to go for it, I

reached out to the Porthkerris crew. They invited me to visit, and from the moment I

arrived, I knew it was the right fit. The family who run the centre were so welcoming

that I felt instantly at home. I passed my HSE medical, started the following week

and it’s been non-stop ever since.

First Impressions

As you drive through the winding Cornish lanes toward Porthkerris, you reach the top

of a hill and suddenly the world opens up, an endless vista across the water to

Falmouth and Plymouth, with nothing but ocean beyond. On my first visit, the sea

was calm, the sun was bright, and the whole scene felt incredibly beautiful. I knew

immediately: I want to spend my summer here.

Becoming a Dive Master

I joined as a Dive Master intern, learning everything it takes to become a

professional diver. My days were packed with helping run courses, assisting on

guided dives, and mastering dive theory and equipment maintenance. I learned how

to communicate with all kinds of divers, from nervous first-timers to seasoned

instructors.

After seven intense weeks, I qualified as a PADI Dive Master and I loved it so much

that I stayed on for the rest of the summer.

The Magic of the Reef

Porthkerris is special for a number of reasons with one being its location. Its house reef is a natural wonder, accessible to divers of all levels.

Beginners can explore the shallow six-metre zone and still see fascinating marine life, while more advanced divers can drop to 14 metres and find themselves surrounded by kelp forests teeming with life.

The reef is a no-take zone, meaning no fishing is allowed, which creates a thriving

underwater ecosystem. This summer, we saw an incredible number of octopus, I

once counted nineteen on a single dive!

This years octopus bloom drew the attention of people across the country, we even had the opportunity to assist film crews from The One Show and Deadly 60, a real highlight of the

summer.

The Landscape Above and Below

Porthkerris’ distinctive landscape makes it ideal for both shore and boat dives. Its long rock reef is visible at all tide levels, making navigation easy even for newer divers.

The centre runs two boats: the Celtic Cat, a larger vessel for full-day charters and longer excursions, and the Celtic Kitten, perfect for shorter trips.

A recent blue shark expedition aboard the Celtic Cat was an incredible and unforgettable experience.

The only drawback? Porthkerris is exposed to easterly winds, which can cancel

dives but luckily, alternative sites nearby mean the adventure never stops.

Life at Porthkerris

Porthkerris isn’t just a dive site, it’s a small, welcoming community. There’s a dive

centre shop, a café, and even a pub where I honed my bartending skills in the

evenings.

The nearby village of St Keverne has everything you might need: cafés, a restaurant,

a bar, and a convenience store. A short drive away, Helston offers supermarkets and

more amenities.

Accommodation at Porthkerris suits everyone from cosy apartments, to camping

fields with electric hookups. You can pitch your tent right by the shore and wake up

steps away from the sea. And the showers? Legendary. Powerful, hot, and coin-

operated bring pound coins or grab some change at the shop.

A Summer Underwater

Over the summer, I logged more than 330 dives at Porthkerris and not once did I

regret getting in the water.

Porthkerris is a beautiful dive location run by a passionate family - Jo, Mike, Rico, Luca, Jackson, and Tiona who make everyone feel like part of their world. Their love for the

place shines through everything they do.

No words or photos can truly capture the atmosphere here. Porthkerris isn’t just a

dive centre, it’s a community, a home, and for me, an exceptional place that shaped

my diving journey forever.