MARIE MASHMAN

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 MASHMAN 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 5m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Marie Mashman, a steamship that went down off Nannels in 1907, isn't deep. At just 5m, it’s a brilliant training wreck or a relaxed second dive. What we love about it is how accessible it feels, even in Cornwall's sometimes choppy conditions. You'll spot sections of the hull, some plates, and scattered debris, all of it heavily draped in kelp. It’s a proper low-relief wreck, blended into the seabed, more an archaeological scattering than an intact vessel. Look closely amongst the kelp fronds and you’ll often find wrasse peering out, or a velvet crab scuttling across a rusty girder. On a sunny day, with the light filtering through the green canopy, it’s remarkably atmospheric. We’d suggest going at slack tide for the best visibility; it really makes a difference here, allowing you to appreciate the details of the wreck and its resident critters without fighting a surge. It’s not a big penetration dive, obviously, but it’s a lovely, gentle potter around a piece of history.