IREX (POSSIBLY)

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Lyme Bay and Torbay

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) - IREX (POSSIBLY) 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 42m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The IREX, lying deep off the coast, is one of those wrecks that really makes you work for it. Dropping to 42 metres, this sailing vessel is for experienced wreck heads, no doubt about it. Our last dive here was in decent vis, maybe 10 metres, and the sheer scale of the ship emerging from the gloom was just incredible. You'll find yourself finning over a broken hull, the wooden structure slowly collapsing, but still very much a ship. We love picking out the anchor chains and trying to imagine it under sail. What really gets us about the IREX is the marine life it’s attracted. Conger eels are always lurking in the deeper, darker sections, and we’ve seen some huge ones here, their heads like fists poking from the wreckage. Dogfish often rest on the deck plates, blending into the silt. The wreck is slowly becoming part of the seabed, a living reef in its own right, covered in dead man’s fingers and hydroids. It’s a proper dive for those who appreciate history and deep exploration, just remember to pick your weather window carefully – the English Channel doesn't mess around at this depth.