ARMANDE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Les Minquiers

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - ARMANDE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 48m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Armande is a relatively young wreck, sunk in 2004 during some seriously rough weather. We love how quickly this little fishing vessel has integrated into the seabed, now a proper home for the local critters. Dropping down, you’ll find her sitting upright on the sand at 48 metres, her GRP hull largely intact. She’s only about 10 metres long, making for a nicely concentrated dive. Visibility can be a real mixed bag in this part of the world, but when it's good, you can really appreciate the way light plays on the deck. Look for crabs tucked into every crevice, dogfish often resting on the sand nearby, and conger eels peering out from deeper inside the hull. We’d suggest a strong torch; it helps to pick out the details and the marine life that's made it home. This is a dive for experienced deep divers comfortable with colder water and potential currents, offering a chance to see how quickly nature reclaims what's lost to the sea.

Typical ARMANDE Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Maximum depth 48m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:2417:3011h 6m daylightGolden hour 16:47

ARMANDE Wreck History

Year Sunk

2004

Vessel Type

fishing vessel

Cause

storm

The Armande was a small, 10-metre fishing vessel with a GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) hull. Her career came to an abrupt end on March 11, 2004, when she was caught in a vicious Force 8 gale off the coast of Cornwall. Overwhelmed by the severe weather, the small vessel foundered and sank, settling on the seabed 48 metres below.

Resting at a depth that places it firmly in the realm of technical diving, the Armande is a challenging but rewarding dive for experienced, deep-certified divers. Its designation as a 'Dangerous Wreck' is a serious warning; the potential for entanglement in lost fishing gear is high, and the integrity of the GRP hull is uncertain. For those with the requisite training, the wreck offers a modern and intact site where divers can explore the compact vessel in a single, atmospheric dive, a poignant reminder of the sea's unforgiving power.