MARECA - Cornwall & Devon

The Mareca, a solid steamship from 1882, sits upright at 40 metres, a proper deep dive that’s well worth the effort. We love how intact she feels, like a ghost ship resting on the seabed. You descend onto her deck, still largely coherent, and can push through some of the holds if you're comfortable with overheads. What really makes her for us are the three boilers, standing proud and covered in plumose anemones, their white tentacles waving gently in the faint current. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of spider crabs picking their way across the metalwork, and often a big conger eel or two lurking in the darker corners. She's a fantastic wreck for experienced divers comfortable with the depth and cold water, offering a real sense of history and some brilliant macro opportunities if you take your time.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.583780, -4.967753
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
40m

Marine Protected Area: Castlemartin Coast

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 MARECA

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 MARECA

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