NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY)
Protected Area
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Under Cliffs
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) - NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY) offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
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.
Typical NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY) Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 23m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY)
Dive shops near NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY)
Edge Watersports
Teign Diving Centre
Scuba Scene Taunton
Old Harbour Dive Centre
Dive Beyond Limited
Scuba Blue Ltd
Reviews for NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY)
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY)
NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for NIL DESPERANDUM (PROBABLY), sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (50.44, -2.73) (3km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
17°C
62°F · Range: 15.1–17.5°C
Air Temperature
13°C
56°F
Wind Speed
8.14 m/s
15.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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