JOSEPH AND MARGARET - Cornwall & Devon

We’ve always had a soft spot for the Joseph and Margaret. It’s not the biggest wreck you’ll ever dive, nor the deepest, but what it lacks in scale it makes up for in character. Lying in just eight metres of water off the Blanchard Rocks, this old brigantine went down in 1887, and time has worn her smooth, leaving a scattered but distinct footprint on the seabed. You’ll find ribs poking up like skeletal fingers from the sand, and we love to poke around the larger hull sections, imagining the chaos of that February night. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss here – this is Cornwall, after all – but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the kelp that now drapes over the remaining timbers. We’ve seen plenty of wrasse darting between the rusty plates, and there’s usually a decent number of crabs tucked into any crevice you can find. It’s an ideal spot for newer wreck divers to get a feel for exploring history without the pressure of depth or strong currents. Our top tip? Go on a calm day, ideally on a slack tide, to really appreciate the quiet beauty of this old girl.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.424835, -2.301333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
8m

Marine Protected Area: Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 JOSEPH AND MARGARET

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 JOSEPH AND MARGARET

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