GIRDLENESS - Cornwall & Devon

Diving Girdleness is a proper journey back in time. This steamship, once the Grelisle and Rockabill before her final name, went down in 1918. She’s a big wreck, over 100 meters long, and that size really makes a difference. Dropping onto her, you’re greeted by the sheer scale of the cargo holds, now open to the ocean. We love how the two huge boilers stand proud, acting like apartment blocks for lobsters and conger eels. Exploring Girdleness means navigating her structure, finding gaps and passages that hint at her former life. The triple expansion engine is a fantastic focus for a dive, often draped in dead man's fingers. Visibility here can swing wildly, but on a good day, the light filtering down through the holds is quite atmospheric. It’s a site that demands decent dive experience, given the depth and potential for currents. Our tip: pick your slack water window carefully for the best chance to really soak in the history here.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.762333, -4.686033
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
32m

Marine Protected Area: Boscastle to Widemouth

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 GIRDLENESS

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 GIRDLENESS

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