GAZELLE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

North West of Lundy

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - GAZELLE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 56m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Gazelle, deep in the waters off Cornwall, is a cracking dive if you’ve got the technical chops. This isn't a beginner's jaunt, mind you. Dropping to 56 metres, the fishing vessel sits upright and largely intact, a real time capsule from 1917. We love how the hull is still discernable, offering proper penetration opportunities for those qualified and equipped. You can make out the stern, with the prop still there, and the bow section, often shrouded in a shoal of pout. Visibility can be a real lottery here. On a good day, it’s a dark, ethereal blue, with enough ambient light to pick out the silhouette of the wreck as you descend. Other days, it's a genuine torch dive from 30 metres down. Either way, the wreck is draped in a thick carpet of plumose anemones, white and frilly, especially around the wheelhouse area. Conger eels are always lurking in the deeper holds, and we've seen some serious monkfish camouflaged on the deck plates. Our favourite approach is to drop onto the stern, work our way forward, then spend our deco drifting over the top, watching the dogfish scuttling below. It’s a proper expedition, a serious dive, and hugely rewarding for those who make the effort. Just make sure your gas planning is spot on.