CARMARAND

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Morte Platform

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) - CARMARAND offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 40m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Carmarand wreck, sunk in 1989 off the Cornish coast, is one of our favourite UK dives for a reason – it’s a proper little time capsule. We love how intact she is for her size, only 12.2 metres long, sitting upright at 40 metres. You can still make out the wheelhouse, the mast, even the gantry crane, all covered in a thick fuzz of plumose anemones. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and macro life. Get in close, and you’ll find squat lobsters tucked into every nook, gobies peering from portholes, and jewel anemones sparkling on the deck. Our tip for this one: pick a day with minimal swell and dive it early. The visibility often drops later, and you want to be able to savour the detail. Don’t expect screaming pelagics, but for a classic Cornish wreck dive with character, the Carmarand delivers. It’s ideal for experienced divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and keen on exploring every crevice of a well-preserved vessel.

Typical CARMARAND 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 (40m) - 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.

Today06:3517:3611h 1m daylightGolden hour 16:51

CARMARAND Wreck History

Year Sunk

1989

Vessel Type

fishing vessel

Cause

flooding

The Carmarand was a small 12-meter fishing vessel whose career came to an abrupt end on July 15, 1989. While at sea off the coast of Cornwall, a pump failed, leading to uncontrollable flooding in the engine room. The small boat was quickly overwhelmed and sank, settling on the seabed 40 meters below. Unlike the historic wrecks that surround it, the Carmarand's demise was not the result of warfare or storm, but a simple, catastrophic mechanical failure.

Today, the Carmarand offers a compelling dive for those with advanced or technical qualifications. Its 40-meter depth means a shorter bottom time and requires careful planning, but the reward is a largely intact modern wreck. Given its small size, divers can easily circumnavigate the entire vessel in a single dive, exploring the wheelhouse, deck, and fishing gear that now provide a habitat for conger eels, lobsters, and dense shoals of bib. As a 'non-dangerous' wreck, it provides a fascinating and manageable deep dive experience in the rich waters of the English Channel.