ASHANTI (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The Ashanti, or what we strongly suspect is the Ashanti, off the Cornish coast, is one of those dives that feels like proper exploration. Dropping onto the deck at 35 metres, you’re met with a strong, imposing silhouette. It's a deep dive, definitely one for experienced cold-water wreckies who appreciate history over coral. We've spent a fair few deco stops here, just taking it all in. She's an upright wreck, surprisingly intact for her age, with a decent amount of superstructure still standing. You can trace her lines, picturing her working life before she met her end in 1940. There’s a certain solemnity down there, a quiet hum you get from these older wrecks. Inside, if you're comfortable with careful penetration, the engine room is a highlight. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with conger eels tucked into every nook and cranny, and the resident pollack are bolder here than on most other Cornish wrecks. We'd suggest aiming for slack water, always, and be prepared for that classic temperate visibility – sometimes it's twenty metres and glorious, sometimes it’s more intimate, but always rewarding. It’s a genuine piece of maritime history, brought to life by the current and the marine life that has made it home.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.417040, -1.346278
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
35m

Wreck History - ASHANTI (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1944
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
534 GRT

Often mistaken for the famous destroyer of the same name, this wreck is the MV Ashanti, a civilian motor coaster built in 1936. With the outbreak of World War II, she was requisitioned for service by the Royal Navy to transport vital supplies. In June 1944, the war was reaching its climax. Just four days after the successful D-Day landings in Normandy, the Ashanti was steaming through the English Channel, likely carrying materials to support the Allied invasion force. On June 10th, she tragically struck a German mine off the Lizard, Cornwall. The explosion was devastating, and the small coaster sank quickly, a stark reminder of the immense dangers that persisted in the waters around Britain.

Today, the MV Ashanti rests upright and remarkably intact at a depth of 35 meters. This depth makes it a dive for more experienced divers, but the reward is a beautifully preserved WWII-era wreck. Divers can explore her open holds, the wheelhouse, and the engine room, getting a clear sense of what this small but vital vessel looked like. The wreck is often draped in fishing nets, which have become a substrate for marine growth like jewel anemones and dead man's fingers. It serves as a poignant memorial to the merchant mariners who played a crucial, and often perilous, role in the Allied victory.

Marine Protected Area: Wight-Barfleur Reef

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 ASHANTI (POSSIBLY)

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 ASHANTI (POSSIBLY)

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