NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

We’re not going to lie, the name alone makes us smile. “Nil Desperandum (Probably)” – a bit of classic British understatement for a fishing vessel that definitely, irrevocably sank back in 1993. This isn't a grand liner, but it's one of our favourite smaller wrecks off the Cornish coast, sitting upright and largely intact at 23 metres. The Nil Desperandum offers a proper penetration dive for those with the right training; you can still poke around the wheelhouse and engine room. What we really love, though, is how the local marine life has completely taken over. The deck is thick with plumose anemones, their feathery white tentacles swaying in the gentle surge, and we always find a grumpy conger eel or two peeking out from beneath a collapsed section of superstructure. For a smaller wreck, it's surprisingly photogenic, particularly when the sunlight catches the jewel anemones clinging to the stern. It's a solid dive for anyone comfortable with depths around 20 metres and keen to explore a working boat turned artificial reef.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.624317, -3.067000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
23m

Marine Protected Area: Axmouth to Lyme Regis Under Cliffs

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 NIL DESPERANDUM (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 NIL DESPERANDUM (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