GOWRIE - Cornwall & Devon

The Gowrie is a proper deep dive, sitting at 56m, so it’s one for the experienced trimix crowd. We love a good WWI wreck, and this steamship, torpedoed in 1917, has a real story behind it. Dropping down, you’ll find the wreck largely intact, though time and the currents have taken their toll on the superstructure. What we really appreciate about the Gowrie is the way the marine life has claimed it. Thick cloaks of plumose anemones cover the hull, their delicate polyps swaying in the gentle surge. Keep an eye out for conger eels too; they’re often found coiled in the darker recesses of the engine room or under collapsed deck plates. The visibility here can be excellent on a good day, allowing you to really take in the scale of the wreck, but it can also drop quickly, so be prepared for a moodier, more atmospheric dive if the conditions aren’t playing ball. It’s a serious dive, requiring careful planning and execution, but for those with the skills, it offers a poignant glimpse into maritime history and a fantastic example of a well-colonised artificial reef.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.865665, -1.401333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
56m

Marine Protected Area: Wight-Barfleur Reef

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 GOWRIE

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 GOWRIE

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