MARIE ELAINE (POSSIBLY)

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Hobby to Peppercombe

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) - MARIE ELAINE (POSSIBLY) 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 8m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Marie Elaine (Possibly) is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to when we’re in Cornwall, mostly because it’s so accessible and just a lovely shallow dive. She went down back in 1990, capsized at her mooring during a storm, and settled neatly on the seabed at a mere 8 metres. That depth means long bottom times, perfect for pottering about and really soaking in the atmosphere. You’ll find her largely intact, a small fishing vessel about 11 metres long, now completely draped in nature. We love how the deckhouse has become a miniature apartment block for blennies and gobies, peering out from every nook. Down in the hold, if you can squeeze a look, the light filters through the rust, illuminating the resident crab population – they're always scuttling. Keep an eye out for dogfish tucked under the hull plates, especially if you visit early in the morning before other divers stir things up. It’s a gentle dive, suited to anyone really, offering a peaceful exploration of a small piece of Cornish maritime history that’s been thoroughly reclaimed by the sea.