CORNELIA - Cornwall & Devon

The *Cornelia* isn’t for the faint of heart or the casually curious. Sitting deep at 50 metres, this World War I sailing vessel is a serious undertaking, but what a reward for those with the training and the gas to get there. We’ve always been drawn to wrecks with a story, and the *Cornelia*, captured by U-boat UB-18 en route to Lisbon, certainly has one. When you drop down, the sheer scale of it becomes apparent. It’s mostly intact, spread across the seabed, and the visibility here, often 10-15 metres, lets you appreciate the lines of her hull, barnacle-encrusted and draped in kelp. Our favourite part is exploring the stern, where the rudder often plays host to conger eels, thick as a diver's thigh, peeking out from behind plating. Look for dogfish nestled in the sand nearby, too. It’s a quiet, humbling dive, feeling the slight pull of the current, knowing the history beneath your fins. We’d suggest a calm day for this one, as the surface conditions can be testing, and you want all your focus on the wreck below. This is a dive for experienced technical divers who appreciate historical wrecks in their natural, deep environment.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.165670, -2.668000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
50m

Marine Protected Area: Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 CORNELIA

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 CORNELIA

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