ARMANDE - Cornwall & Devon

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.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
48.922466, -2.435467
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
48m

Wreck History - ARMANDE

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.

Marine Protected Area: Les Minquiers

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 ARMANDE

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 ARMANDE

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