BONNE SAINTE RITA
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) - BONNE SAINTE RITA offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Bonne Sainte Rita, a French trawler that went down off the Lizard in '86, has become one of our favourite dives in this part of Cornwall. She’s not huge at just under 19 metres, but she sits upright at 31m, completely intact. Dropping down, you’ll see the bow first, often surrounded by sand eels dancing in the current. We’ve found the wheelhouse is still largely there, letting you peek inside where the skipper would have been. What we love about this wreck is the way the marine life has completely taken over. Big schools of pollock usually hang around the mast, and you often spot conger eels peeking out from below the deck plates. The metalwork is draped in dead man's fingers and anemones, which really pop in the torchlight. Because she’s a deeper dive, plan your bottom time carefully, and be aware that currents can pick up here. We’d suggest diving her on a neap tide for the most relaxed experience. It’s a proper wreck dive, best suited for those comfortable at depth who appreciate the eerie beauty of a vessel lost at sea.
Typical BONNE SAINTE RITA Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (31m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
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.
BONNE SAINTE RITA Wreck History
Year Sunk
1986
Vessel Type
trawler
Cause
storm
The Bonne Sainte Rita was a small French trawler, just under 19 meters long, that was tragically lost at sea during a fierce winter storm in December 1986. The vessel was reported missing off the coast of Cornwall and is believed to have capsized and sunk with all hands in the rough weather, a somber testament to the dangers faced by fishermen in the English Channel.
Today, the wreck rests upright at a depth of 31 meters, making it an excellent dive for advanced recreational divers. Though small, the trawler is a poignant and interesting site. Its structure is often draped in lost fishing nets, which create a significant entanglement hazard, warranting its 'dangerous wreck' classification and demanding a cautious approach. Divers can expect to see the trawler's wheelhouse and deck gear, now heavily colonized by jewel anemones, dead man's fingers, and sheltering large conger eels, crabs, and lobsters.
Reviews for BONNE SAINTE RITA
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BONNE SAINTE RITA
BONNE SAINTE RITA Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BONNE SAINTE RITA, 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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