CAROLINE SUSAN - Cornwall & Devon

The Caroline Susan is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s not massive, a wooden yacht, but her story, sunk just after Dunkirk in 1940, gives you pause. Dropping down, you’ll find her largely intact, sitting upright at 22 metres. We love finning along her deck, imagining her peacetime cruises before the war. The twin paraffin engines are still prominent, and the exposed ribs of her wooden hull feel almost skeletal. What makes her a standout for us isn’t just the history, it’s the way the local marine life has utterly taken over. Conger eels peer out from every crevice, sometimes three or four in a single inspection hole. The deck planks are carpeted in jewel anemones, sparkling purple and orange under your torch beam. Look closely for nudibranchs, especially on the more sheltered parts of the wreck. It’s a manageable dive, suitable for Open Water divers comfortable with depth and navigating a wreck. Our favourite time to dive her is on a slack tide, gives you plenty of time to explore without battling a push.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.673910, -1.679173
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
22m

Wreck History - CAROLINE SUSAN

Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
yacht
Cause
unknown

The CAROLINE SUSAN had a short but eventful life. Originally built as a naval pinnace, this sturdy wooden vessel was converted into a comfortable motor yacht in Southampton in 1938, fitted with modern twin paraffin engines. Her new life of leisure, however, was cut short by the outbreak of the Second World War. Just two years after her conversion, she was lost off the English coast on June 13, 1940, a time of intense naval activity following the Dunkirk evacuation.

The exact cause of her sinking remains unconfirmed, but it was almost certainly a casualty of the conflict, whether from a mine, aircraft, or surface action. Today, she rests in 22 metres of water, making her an excellent wreck dive for advanced open water divers. The wooden structure has deteriorated over the decades, but divers can still identify features of this ex-naval craft and ponder its brief, dramatic history caught between peacetime luxury and wartime service.

Marine Protected Area: Highcliffe to Milford Cliffs

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 CAROLINE SUSAN

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 CAROLINE SUSAN

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