ELNA E - Cornwall & Devon

The Elna E is a big dive, no question. We’re talking 60 metres to the seabed, so this is very much for the experienced technical diver with the right training and gas. She went down in 1941 after hitting a mine near Crackington Haven, a steamship on a run from Cardiff to Plymouth. What we love about the Elna E is the sheer intactness of her. Sitting upright on the sand, her bow points west, and you can still make out the superstructure and bridge area quite clearly. It feels less like a broken wreck and more like a ship that just... stopped. Penetration is possible for those qualified, but even just exploring the exterior, you get a real sense of her scale. Look for the prop, often surrounded by conger eels, and the big, shadowy swim-throughs where the hold access used to be. The deep water keeps the light low, giving everything a wonderfully eerie blue cast, and we often find big schools of whiting flickering around the masts. Definitely our pick for a serious deep wreck in this corner of the UK.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.869200, -5.059700
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
60m

Marine Protected Area: South-West Approaches to Bristol Channel

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 ELNA E

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 ELNA E

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