The Runnel Stone

The Runnel Stone is a submerged granite reef off Gwennap Head near Land's End in Cornwall, long known as a hazard for shipping rounding the southwest tip of England. Its exposed position, open to Atlantic swell and tidal streams, has led to numerous wrecks accumulating on and around its pinnacles over the past century or more, with several vessels breaking apart on the rock. Depths run from shallow water near the top of the reef down to around 40 metres on the surrounding seabed. The site is known for its mix of wreckage, granite gullies, and marine life typical of exposed Cornish reef, including large shoals of fish and anemones on the rock faces. Because of the current and exposed position, it is generally considered a dive for those with some experience, and it is usually reached by boat from Penzance or nearby harbours.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Basking SharkCetorhinus maximusReported here · unconfirmed
• Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Common DolphinDelphinus delphisReported here · unconfirmed
• Grey SealHalichoerus grypusReported here · unconfirmed
• Risso's DolphinGrampus griseusReported here · unconfirmed