GERARDA - Cornwall & Devon

The Gerarda is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to, and it’s always a good call. Lying upright at 26 metres, she’s a proper steamship, still very much a ship rather than a debris field. You drop down onto the bow, often with pollock darting into view, and from there it’s a clear swim along the deck. Her single boiler is a real focal point, now a magnet for conger eels – we’ve seen some absolute monsters tucked away in there. We love the engine room for its sense of scale, and the way the light filters down through the superstructure, catching the clouds of jewel anemones that have colonised the plates. The visibility here can be superb on a slack tide, letting you appreciate the sheer length of the wreck, all 78 metres of her. Expect to see dogfish lurking in the shadows and plenty of wrasse picking their way through the growth. Our top tip? Get there on a neap tide for the calmest conditions; it really makes a difference.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.515366, -0.933150
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
26m

Marine Protected Area: Utopia

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 GERARDA

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 GERARDA

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