ETOILE DU MARIN - Cornwall & Devon

The Etoile du Marin is a favourite of ours, and it’s always a good choice if you're looking for a solid wreck dive without the bone-chilling depths of some of the deeper Cornish sites. This French fishing trawler, a compact 12.2m, went down in '92, and she's settled upright on the seabed at 52m. We always find her character appealing; she’s not a massive wreck, but the wheelhouse is still largely intact, which offers a great swim-through if you’re comfortable with a bit of overhead. What makes her special for us is how quickly marine life has adopted her. We’ve seen conger eels curled up in the nooks and crannies, their heads poking out from rusting plates, and often, you’ll find a decent school of pollack hovering over the bow. The sheer quantity of jewel anemones that have colonised the hull is really striking – a riot of orange and pink against the muted greens of the seabed. We'd suggest hitting this one on a slack tide, as the current can pick up, making the decent a bit of a workout otherwise. It’s a great dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a smaller, more intimate exploration rather than a sprawling metal mountain.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.319916, -1.873725
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
52m

Marine Protected Area: Albert Field

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 ETOILE DU MARIN

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 ETOILE DU MARIN

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