BADGER (PROBABLY)
Protected Area
West of Wight-Barfleur
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) - BADGER (PROBABLY) offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Badger (Probably) is a deep-water challenge off the Cornish coast, a wreck we love for its history and its eerie, settled feel. Lying at 60 metres, this small steamship, sunk by a U-boat in 1916, is for the experienced technical diver. We'd suggest calm conditions for this one, as the surface can get choppy and that long descent is much nicer without a rollercoaster ride. Once you’re down, the wreck itself is compact, only 20 metres long, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere. The probable compound expansion engine is still recognisable, a hulking shape draped in soft corals and sponges. We've often seen conger eels peering out from gaps in the plating, their thick bodies camouflaged against the dark metal. The visibility here can be excellent on a good day, allowing you to appreciate the scale of the wreck against the vast blue of the open water. It’s a quiet dive, a real journey back in time, and our pick for those who appreciate a historical wreck that feels truly untouched.
Typical BADGER (PROBABLY) 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 60m 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.
BADGER (PROBABLY) Wreck History
Year Sunk
1916
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Lying in the deep, dark waters of the English Channel, the wreck tentatively identified as the steamship Badger is a dive reserved for experienced technical divers. At a challenging depth of 60 meters, this site tells a grim story from the height of the First World War. In August 1916, the Badger was on a routine passage from Jersey to Portsmouth, carrying a cargo of 90 tons of coal tar. Her journey was violently interrupted when she was attacked by an enemy vessel, likely a German U-boat. The small steamer stood little chance and quickly sank to the seabed.
Today, the Badger rests as a time capsule of the Great War. Divers descending through the cold, green water will find the remains of a classic early 20th-century coastal trader. While over a century of immersion has taken its toll, key features like her compound expansion engine and single shaft may still be identifiable. Exploring this wreck is a somber reminder of the civilian cost of war at sea, offering a poignant and technically demanding dive into history.
Reviews for BADGER (PROBABLY)
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BADGER (PROBABLY)
BADGER (PROBABLY) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BADGER (PROBABLY), sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (50.44, -2.73) (3km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
17°C
62°F · Range: 15.1–17.5°C
Air Temperature
13°C
56°F
Wind Speed
8.14 m/s
15.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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