IRMA GERMAINE (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Let's be honest, finding the Irma Germaine takes some doing, and even then, there's always that "possibly" hanging over it. But when you hit it, oh boy. This isn’t some pristine, intact wreck, far from it. It’s a wartime casualty, a fishing vessel mined in 1943, and the sea has had its way with her for decades. What you find is more of a debris field at 55 metres, spread across the seabed, but that’s precisely what makes it so fascinating. We love how the metal plates and ribs have become intricate homes for everything that scuttles and swims in the deep. Look closely and you’ll spot conger eels – some truly massive ones – peering out from behind twisted metal, their eyes like marbles. Squat lobsters are everywhere, clinging to the rust, and we’ve seen some hefty edible crabs too, trundling across the sand nearby. It’s a dive for technical divers, no question, given the depth. But the payoff is in the history, the sheer mystery of it all, and the way life has completely reclaimed this wartime relic. It's a deep, dark exploration, often with a slight current, but for those who love a good challenge and a wreck that tells a story through its very disintegration, the Irma Germaine, or whatever she truly is, delivers.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.278183, -3.375450
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
55m

Marine Protected Area: Berry Head to Sharkham 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 IRMA GERMAINE (POSSIBLY)

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 IRMA GERMAINE (POSSIBLY)

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