GILSEA

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Minchin Hole

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) - GILSEA 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 30m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The GILSEA is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s not huge, just a 13.4-meter fishing vessel, but she went down in 1993, so the sea has had plenty of time to work its magic. We’ve found her lying on her side at 30 meters, often with a slight tilt that gives her a dramatic silhouette against the greenish light. What we really love about the GILSEA is how accessible she feels for a deeper wreck. You can still make out the wheelhouse, and the trawl gear is often draped over the seabed around her, creating nooks and crannies for divers to peek into. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of plumose anemones waving from the superstructure, their tentacles filtering the water. We’ve also seen juvenile pollock darting through the openings and crabs scuttling amongst the debris. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss in the UK, but on a good day, the GILSEA stands out with a ghostly clarity, inviting you to spend a good chunk of your bottom time exploring her every angle. She’s a fantastic dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts looking for a manageable, characterful site.