ANNIE YVONNE - Cornwall & Devon

Diving the *Annie Yvonne* is like stepping back into a moment of maritime history, the wreck itself a stark reminder of wartime perils. This 25-meter sailing vessel, torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1918, lies upright and remarkably intact at 21 meters, a real bonus for a wreck of this age. We love how her wooden hull has largely survived, especially the stern, which still holds much of its original shape. Swimming along the deck, you can almost trace the crew’s final moments. The bow is broken but the midships section is pretty complete, offering swim-throughs into what would have been the cargo hold. Sunlight, even on a cloudy day, filters down, illuminating the vibrant jewel anemones that have colonised every available surface. Look closely among the planks and you’ll spot gobies darting into crevices, while velvet crabs scuttle across the timbers. For us, the highlight is exploring the rigging, now a jumble of beams and spars, where conger eels often lurk, peeking out from beneath the structure. It’s a site that really suits divers who appreciate historical wrecks and aren’t put off by the cooler Atlantic waters. We’d suggest a slack tide dive for the best experience, as currents can pick up here.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.981160, -5.167694
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
21m

Wreck History - ANNIE YVONNE

Year Sunk
1918
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
109 GRT

The Annie Yvonne was a small French wooden schooner, a sailing vessel that was still a common sight carrying cargo along coastal routes even in the age of steam. In March 1918, during the final, intense year of World War I, she was on a voyage from Swansea, Wales, to Granville, France, navigating the treacherous waters of the English Channel, which had become a prime hunting ground for German U-boats.

On March 17th, her luck ran out. She was intercepted by the German submarine UB-57, a successful and feared predator of Allied shipping. As the Annie Yvonne was an unarmed sailing vessel, the U-boat simply surfaced. Rather than waste a valuable torpedo, the German crew scuttled the schooner, likely by placing explosive charges against the hull and allowing her crew to abandon ship in their boats before sending the vessel to the bottom.

Today, the remains of the Annie Yvonne lie in 21 meters of water off Cadgwith, Cornwall, making for a fascinating dive for recreational divers. As a wooden ship, her hull has largely disintegrated over the last century, leaving behind a scattered but intriguing debris field. Divers can explore the site searching for the non-wooden parts of the ship that have survived, such as iron ballast, metal fittings, anchors, and other hardware. It's an archaeological dive that offers a direct connection to a dramatic WWI encounter.

Marine Protected Area: Lizard Point

Best Time to Dive in Cornwall & Devon

The warmest water temperatures in Cornwall & Devon occur in January, averaging 9.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 9.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 9.6°C (air: 7.3°C)
  • February: 9.6°C (air: 8.4°C)
  • March: 9.6°C (air: 8.6°C)
  • April: 9.6°C (air: 10.1°C)
  • May: 9.6°C (air: 12.6°C)
  • June: 9.6°C (air: 15.2°C)
  • July: 9.6°C (air: 16.6°C)
  • August: 9.6°C (air: 17.1°C)
  • September: 9.6°C (air: 15.9°C)
  • October: 9.6°C (air: 13.5°C)
  • November: 9.6°C (air: 10.7°C)
  • December: 9.6°C (air: 8.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cornwall & Devon

Nearest Dive Centres to ANNIE YVONNE

Marine Life in Cornwall & Devon

Home to 192 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 13 whales & dolphins, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ANNIE YVONNE

Based on average water temperature of 9.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 10°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories