CHANNEL QUEEN

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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) - CHANNEL QUEEN 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 2m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Channel Queen, off the Cornish coast, is one of those shallow wrecks we keep coming back to. Sunk back in 1898, this steamship is now well broken up, but that’s precisely what makes it so engaging. It sits in just 2 metres of water, so it’s perfect for a long, relaxed dive or even a snorkel on a calm day. We love finning over the jumbled metal plates and ribs, seeing how the ocean has reclaimed it. Look closely, and you’ll find crabs scuttling in every crevice and juvenile pollack darting between the rusty beams. The light penetration here is fantastic, really bringing out the vibrant greens and browns of the kelp and seaweeds that coat everything. Our favourite is spotting the nudibranchs grazing on the hydroids – they’re everywhere if you take your time. Because it’s so shallow, you can really explore without worrying about deco limits. It's a genuinely tranquil dive, ideal for photographers or anyone wanting to spend an hour just soaking up a piece of history that’s now part of the reef.