ERNEST LAGOUVE - Cornwall & Devon

The *Ernest Lagouve* isn't a deep dive, but it's one that really gets under your skin. Lying at 39 metres, this steel barque, torpedoed in 1917, is a proper chunk of history on the seabed. We love dropping down onto the main deck, the sheer scale of the ship immediately apparent. You can swim through the holds, imagining them crammed with bagged cement, now home to ling and conger eels that peer out from every crevice. Our favourite part is exploring the stern, where the prop shaft leads away, swallowed by the darkness. It’s a silty wreck, so good buoyancy is key, but the visibility can be surprisingly decent, especially on a neap tide. The feeling of swimming alongside such a large, intact vessel from another era is quite something. It’s a dive for those who appreciate maritime history and aren't afraid of a bit of gloom. You’ll find squat lobsters clinging to the fallen masts and plumose anemones blooming across the ironwork, a real testament to how nature reclaims these sunken giants.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.522984, -1.480665
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
39m

Marine Protected Area: Tennyson

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 ERNEST LAGOUVE

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 ERNEST LAGOUVE

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