POUSSOIR - Cornwall & Devon

The Poussoir is a fantastic wreck if you enjoy something a little different, and we always suggest it for divers who appreciate history alongside a good dive. She’s a tug, and a French one at that, which went down in 1918 after a collision. You’ll find her upright on the seabed at 20 metres, which is a comfortable depth for most, but the real draw is her incredible state of preservation. We love exploring the engine room, still largely intact, and poking around the stern where the propeller blades are usually visible, often draped in dead man's fingers. Because she’s been down for over a century, the Poussoir has become a proper artificial reef. The metalwork is completely encrusted with jewel anemones, often a brilliant orange, and you’ll spot plenty of wrasse darting in and out of the crevices. We’ve seen conger eels coiled up in the darker sections more times than we can count. Visibility can be hit or miss in the English Channel, so we’d suggest aiming for slack water around neap tides; it really makes a difference to the colours and overall experience. It’s a genuinely engaging dive for anyone comfortable with wreck penetration, offering a real sense of stepping back in time.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.442000, -0.905900
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

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 POUSSOIR

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 POUSSOIR

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