GILLES BEATRICE - Cornwall & Devon

Gilles Beatrice, for us, is a proper taste of Cornish wreck diving. It’s a trawler, nothing huge, just 17.4 metres long, but it sank in 1979 and has settled nicely upright on the seabed at 58 metres. We love how complete it still feels, even after all these years. Drop down the line and you’ll see the deck come into view, the wheelhouse still largely intact. Our favourite part is poking around the stern, where you can often spot conger eels tucked into any crevice. The site is a haven for pollack and coalfish, and we’ve seen some hefty lobsters marching across the deck. It’s a deep dive, obviously, so it's for experienced technical divers who are comfortable with decompression. The visibility here can be superb on a good day, but it’s still the English Channel, so be prepared for a bit of a gloomier dive if the weather has been rough. Always check the tides; even at this depth, currents can pick up.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.133950, -2.751271
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
58m

Marine Protected Area: East of Start Point

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 GILLES BEATRICE

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 GILLES BEATRICE

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