CHRISANDE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Bristol Channel Approaches / Dynesfeydd Môr Hafren

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) - CHRISANDE 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 47m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The *Chrisande* is one of those wrecks we return to whenever we’re in the area. Sunk in 1994, this old fishing vessel, built back in 1940, now sits upright at 47 metres. It’s a proper dive, no doubt, but the rewards are huge. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer sense of history, a working boat now resting on the seabed. She’s only 18 metres long, so you can really get a feel for the whole vessel in a single dive. We love poking around the wheelhouse, though the stern is probably our favourite, often blanketed in dead man’s fingers. Look closely into the nooks and crannies for conger eels, and you’ll usually find pollack circling overhead. The current here can pick up, so we always suggest diving on a neap tide for the most relaxed exploration. Visibility is typically around 10-15 metres on a good day, giving you plenty of light to appreciate the intact structure. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, those who appreciate a deeper, slightly more challenging plunge into maritime history.