MARIANELA SANTANDER

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Morte Platform

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - MARIANELA SANTANDER offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 38m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Marianela Santander is a proper Cornish wreck, one we always enjoy when the conditions align. She’s a steamship that went down in 1921, and we find her lying deep, around 38 metres, northwest of Bull Point. What we really appreciate here is the way the wreck has settled into the seabed, creating these fantastic nooks and crannies for life to thrive. You’ll spend your time exploring the collapsed holds and the stern, where the prop shaft is usually quite visible. We've seen some impressive conger eels lurking in the deeper sections of the hull, and the deck plating is absolutely carpeted with jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers. The visibility here can be a bit of a gamble, but on a good day, when the sun penetrates that far, the colours are genuinely striking. It’s a site for experienced divers comfortable with depth and colder water; the currents can pick up, so slack water is definitely our preferred window. Bring a good torch to really appreciate the details inside the wreck and to spot those shy inhabitants.