CATHERINE ALLEN - Cornwall & Devon

The Catherine Allen, for us, is a proper Cornish wreck dive, deep enough to feel like an adventure without being extreme. She’s an 18-metre trawler, capsized back in ‘73 while dredging for cockles – a bit of a local legend, really. Lying at 48 metres, the visibility here can be temperamental, as is often the case in the UK, but when it’s good, the light penetrates just enough to make out her upright hull. We love finning along her deck, imagining the last moments before she went down. Keep an eye out for conger eels peering from every dark recess; they’re practically residents. Our favourite bit is the stern, where the prop is still largely intact, often covered in dead man's fingers and visited by inquisitive dogfish. This site really suits experienced divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and keen to explore a piece of local maritime history. It’s not about vibrant corals, it’s about the drama of the wreck and the surprising amount of life that now calls it home.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.171116, -3.804200
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
48m

Marine Protected Area: Start Point to Plymouth Sound & Eddystone

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 CATHERINE ALLEN

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 CATHERINE ALLEN

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