BRISK (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The Brisk, probably, sits deep at 53 metres, a proper technical dive in the often-chilly embrace of the English Channel. We love this wreck for its scale. She was an 81-metre steamship, sunk in 1918, and her bones are still impressively intact, even after more than a century on the seabed. Expect a proper deep dive, with decent bottom time if you're well-planned. When the visibility is good, which is never a guarantee off Cornwall, you can make out the huge boilers, a defining feature for us, and the triple-expansion engine. It’s a silent, eerie place. The wreck provides a huge structure for life, so we've seen everything from sprawling jewel anemones coating the metalwork to large conger eels lurking in shadowed compartments. For deep wreck enthusiasts, this is a real treat, offering exploration and a sense of history without the crowds. It's a proper expedition, not a casual dip.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.761665, -4.992033
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
53m

Wreck History - BRISK (PROBABLY)

Year Sunk
1918
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The Norwegian steamship BRISK was built in Bergen in 1906 and served as a merchant vessel for the Acties. Bonheur company. Her fate was sealed during the final year of the First World War. In June 1918, while on passage from the vital coal-shipping port of Cardiff, she disappeared into the depths of the English Channel. While the official cause is not listed, her sinking is consistent with the thousands of other merchant ships lost in these waters during the war, making it almost certain she was the victim of a German U-boat attack.

Resting at a challenging depth of 53 meters, the wreck identified as the BRISK is a dive reserved for experienced technical divers. This is a journey back in time to the height of the Great War at sea. The wreck is a somber and atmospheric site, a steel casualty lying in the shipping graveyard off the coast of Cornwall. Exploring her remains offers a direct connection to a pivotal moment in world history, a testament to the merchant mariners who risked everything to keep supply lines open.

Marine Protected Area: South-West Approaches to Bristol Channel

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 BRISK (PROBABLY)

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 BRISK (PROBABLY)

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