TRIDONIA - Cornwall & Devon

The Tridonia, off the Cornish coast, is one of our favourite wreck dives, especially for newer divers looking for a proper old ship without the crushing depth. She’s a sailing vessel, sunk back in 1916 on her way from Dublin to Buenos Aires, and she lies in such shallow water, sometimes you can even spot parts of her on a very low tide. That 1m max depth is no typo; it’s practically a snorkel, making it fantastic for extended bottom times and really picking apart the remains. What we love here is the way the wreck has become part of the seabed. Barnacles encrust the hull plates, and you’ll often see spider crabs scuttling across the deck timbers. It’s a gentle wreck, with ribs exposed like ancient bones, and in the right conditions, with the sun breaking through the surface, the light play is just beautiful. You won't find flashy corals, but the anenomes and hydroids provide a soft, swaying covering, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large pollack lurking in the shadows. It’s a dive that makes you feel connected to history, a quiet, contemplative exploration rather than an adrenaline rush.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
51.542120, -4.145613
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

Marine Protected Area: Great Tor (Three Cliff Bay)

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 TRIDONIA

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 TRIDONIA

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