CONLEA - Cornwall & Devon

The Conlea is a properly moody wreck. Lying at 43 metres, she’s a dive for those comfortable with depth and the sometimes-finicky conditions of the English Channel. We love her for the sheer scale and the sense of history. Sunk in heavy weather in 1975, you can still feel the drama. She sits upright, largely intact, with her bow pointing seaward. The wheelhouse is gone, but the engine room, where the flooding began, is accessible if you’re comfortable with overhead environments and good on your trim. Look out for the propeller, often shrouded in a cloud of jewel anemones, a genuinely startling splash of colour against the rusted steel. The hold offers cavernous entry points, and we’ve often found conger eels coiled amongst the twisted metal, surprisingly curious. Visibility can be 20 metres on a good day, but when it’s 5 metres and the light is dim, the Conlea becomes an atmospheric, almost ghostly, experience. Dive her on a slack tide, ideally early morning, for the best chance of clear water before the currents pick up. It’s a dive that rewards careful planning and a healthy respect for the conditions.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.007168, -2.517667
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
43m

Marine Protected Area: Les Minquiers

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 CONLEA

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 CONLEA

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