MARY TOOVEY

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) - MARY TOOVEY 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 43m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The *Mary Toovey* is a proper piece of history sunk off the Cornish coast, and we love a wreck with a story. At 43 metres, it’s a dive for the more experienced among us, a place where you really feel the weight of the water above. We've always found it best to hit this one on a slack tide; the currents here can be a bit frisky, making the penetration tricky if you’re not careful. What makes *Mary Toovey* stand out isn't just its depth, but the way the ocean has completely reclaimed it. You're not just looking at a sunken ship; you're seeing a living reef built on steel. Expect to find conger eels peering out from gaps in the hull, their thick bodies shifting in the gloom. Our favourite moments here are always spent hovering just above the deck, watching schools of pollock stream past, their scales flashing in the limited light that penetrates this far down. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, offering some intriguing swim-throughs for those comfortable with overhead environments – just remember your line and reel. It’s a dive that rewards slow, methodical exploration, uncovering more details the longer you spend with it.