MARIA JOSE - Cornwall & Devon

The Maria Jose is a proper deep dive, sitting at 55 metres off Lundy Island. We love this wreck for its ghostly calm, a stark contrast to the often lively waters closer to shore. Dropping down, the light fades quickly, and the outline of the sailing vessel starts to emerge from the blue. She went down in 1918, a victim of a German U-boat, and time has given her a real sense of history. What you'll find is a largely intact hull, settled upright, with masts long gone but the general shape still very much there. We’ve seen conger eels poking out from every nook and cranny, sometimes surprisingly large ones, and the deck plates host brittle stars and dead man’s fingers. The visibility can be surprisingly good down here, often better than shallower sites, giving you a chance to appreciate her scale. This isn’t a rummage dive; it’s about appreciating a piece of maritime history, deep and quiet, with just the ambient hum of the ocean for company. It’s definitely one for experienced divers comfortable with the depth and the chill of the Atlantic.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.817190, -5.017732
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
55m

Marine Protected Area: South-West Approaches to Bristol Channel

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 MARIA JOSE

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 MARIA JOSE

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