CHRISTMAS - Cornwall & Devon

Christmas is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to in Lyme Bay, and for good reason. It’s a fishing vessel, went down back in ‘81 while under tow, and now she sits upright in about 23 metres. We love that upright position; it gives her real character, not just a pile of twisted metal. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, a real draw for a bit of penetration if you're comfortable in overhead environments. You can poke around the hold too, which is usually choked with bib and pollock, sometimes a shy conger. The deck is a carpet of dead man's fingers and anemones, a riot of orange and white in the torch beam. Look closely for those tiny jewel anemones, they're everywhere. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is in Lyme Bay. We've had days where you can see the whole wreck from bow to stern, and others where it's a six-foot crawl. Our advice? Pick your slack water window carefully; the currents can be quite frisky on the pushes. She’s a great dive for experienced wreck divers looking for something a bit more than just a lump on the seabed, offering enough structure to make multiple dives interesting.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.656390, -3.159025
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
23m

Marine Protected Area: Sidmouth to Beer Coast

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 CHRISTMAS

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 CHRISTMAS

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