GARTLAND - Cornwall & Devon

The Gartland is a proper deep dive, a testament to Cornwall’s wild wartime waters. We love this wreck for its sheer scale, especially when you consider it’s a century old and still holding together. Dropping down, you’ll start to pick out the colossal hull, lying upright and mostly intact on a seabed of coarse sand. The visibility here can be a bit hit or miss, typical for the Channel, but on a good day, the sight of that bow emerging from the gloom is just fantastic. We’d suggest heading for the midships first. The cargo holds are largely open, easy to penetrate for those comfortable with overhead environments, and you can still make out the massive winches. Look inside for conger eels, thick as a diver's thigh, usually tucked into the darkest corners. The stern section is also great, with the propeller still in place and often surrounded by clouds of bib and pollack. It’s a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, no doubt about it. The depth means limited bottom time, so plan your gas carefully and watch those tides. A slack water dive is paramount here, otherwise you’ll be fighting a fierce current. This is a real piece of history, and we think it offers a genuinely rewarding dive.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.604950, -0.657300
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
30m

Marine Protected Area: Offshore Overfalls

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 GARTLAND

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 GARTLAND

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