MABEL BAIRD - Cornwall & Devon

The Mabel Baird is a proper deep dive, sitting upright at 51 metres, and she’s our pick for a challenging but rewarding wreck in Cornwall. Dropping down, the sheer scale of her hits you; 88 metres of history, surprisingly intact for a ship sunk by a U-boat torpedo in 1917. We love exploring the bow, which points north, where the anchor chains spill out into the sand. You'll often find conger eels peering from every dark hole and massive pollack circling above. Penetration is possible into the engine room, though it’s a tight squeeze and only for experienced wreck divers. You can really get a sense of her working life down there. The stern is also fantastic, with the propeller still in place, encrusted with dead man's fingers and anemones. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, as is often the case in these waters, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the superstructure. Best dived on a slack tide, obviously. You want to maximise your time at depth here; there's a lot to take in.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.925774, -5.270182
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
51m

Marine Protected Area: Lizard 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 MABEL BAIRD

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 MABEL BAIRD

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