CARARE - Cornwall & Devon

The *Carare* is a big one. Seriously big. This banana boat, sunk in 1940, now sits upright and relatively intact at 24 metres, which we love for its accessibility. You drop down, and suddenly, you’re looking at a huge hull stretching into the murk, the sheer scale of it always a surprise. We’ve spent whole dives just finning along her length, peering into cargo holds that once carried fruit, now home to clouds of pollack and blennies tucked into every crevice. Our favourite part has to be the twin propellers; they’re enormous, still perfectly aligned, drawing you in for a closer look. Visibility can be hit or miss, typical for the English Channel, but when it’s good, the light filtering through the superstructure is something else. You’ll definitely want a torch to poke around the darker corners and spot the lobsters lurking. It’s a proper wreck dive, best suited for those comfortable with deeper sites and keen on exploring history beneath the waves. The *Carare* offers that fantastic combination of substantial structure and an abundance of marine life.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.293800, -3.746283
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
24m

Wreck History - CARARE

Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
5,880 GRT

The SS Carare was a fast, modern refrigerated cargo ship built in 1925 for the Elders & Fyffes line, famous for its fleet of "banana boats." These vessels were vital for transporting fruit from the Caribbean and Central America to the UK, and the Carare spent her pre-war years on this tropical route. With the outbreak of the Second World War, she continued her essential service, braving the perilous waters of the Atlantic. On May 28, 1940, while sailing unescorted from Avonmouth to Jamaica, her luck ran out. She was spotted by the German submarine U-101 and struck by a single torpedo, sinking within minutes with the loss of four crew members.

Today, the Carare rests upright at a depth of 24 meters off the coast of Cornwall. While the passage of time and the force of the torpedo have caused some collapse around the engine room, she remains a substantial and impressive wreck. Divers can explore her largely intact bow and stern sections, peer into her cargo holds, and observe the abundant marine life that has colonized her steel structure. The wreck serves as a poignant memorial to the merchant sailors of the Battle of the Atlantic and offers a compelling dive into a significant piece of wartime history.

Marine Protected Area: Glenthorne

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 CARARE

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 CARARE

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