GENERAL DU TEMPLE - Cornwall & Devon

The *General du Temple* is one of our favourite deep wrecks off the Cornish coast. It's not a shallow potter, dropping straight down to 43 metres, but for experienced divers keen on a proper historical wreck, it’s fantastic. This steamship met its end in August 1917, a victim of a mine, and she now rests upright, mostly intact. We love exploring her bow, often a good starting point, where the structure is still quite defined, and you can really get a sense of her original form. Visibility can be a gamble, as it often is in the Channel, but on a good day, the silhouette of the ship emerging from the gloom is genuinely impressive. Look closely, and you'll spot plenty of conger eels making homes in the deeper sections, their heads poking out from crevices. The superstructure provides shelter for big shoals of bib and pouting, swirling around you as you descend. It’s a site that really rewards careful exploration, feeling like a true dive into wartime history. Just make sure your gas planning is spot on; it’s a deep one, and that deco clock starts ticking fast.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.717182, -1.568483
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
43m

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 GENERAL DU TEMPLE

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 GENERAL DU TEMPLE

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