L'OTARIE - Cornwall & Devon

L'Otarie. A trawler, sunk in ‘94, now sitting bolt upright at 20 metres. We love a wreck that still looks like a ship, and this one certainly does. She’s relatively intact, giving you plenty to explore: a wheelhouse you can poke your head into, deck machinery to weave around, and a stern section that’s become a proper apartment block for conger eels. What we really enjoy here is the way the light filters down, illuminating the brassy golds of kelp that have colonised the upperworks. You’ll find schools of pollack circling the mast, and often, an inquisitive grey seal will come to check you out. It’s a site that feels a bit wild, a proper Cornish wreck dive, excellent for divers comfortable with overhead environments and keen to spend a full dive exploring one structure. Our tip: go on a rising tide for the best visibility.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.449100, -0.901400
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

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 L'OTARIE

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 L'OTARIE

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