MINERVA (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The Minerva, or at least what we’re pretty sure is the Minerva, sits in 43 metres off the Lizard, a proper deep dive for those comfortable with the colder, darker UK conditions. She went down in 1917, torpedoed on a trip from Caen to Swansea, and now she’s a scattered but really interesting wreck. We love the way the two boilers still stand proud, giving you a real sense of her scale, even with the rest of the hull broken up around them. Dropping down, the visibility can be variable here, but on a good day, the light filtering through the green water makes for some moody exploration. You’ll find plenty of conger eels making their homes in the twisted plates and pipes, and jewel anemones splash colour across the darker metal. Our favourite part is nosing around the debris field, where you often spot lobsters tucked into crevices. It’s a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a current. We’d suggest timing your dive for slack water to really get the most out of exploring the structure.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.493600, -2.756617
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
43m

Marine Protected Area: South of Portland

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 MINERVA (PROBABLY)

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 MINERVA (PROBABLY)

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