URSA (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Ursa, or at least what we think is Ursa, is a proper deep dive that delivers. This is a big steamship, sitting upright at 45 metres, and finding her in the sometimes-murky Channel is half the adventure. We love dropping down onto her vast hull, feeling that chill build as you descend, then seeing the dark shape resolve into davits and cargo holds. She went down in 1918, torpedoed by UB-104, and the years have smoothed her edges, but the scale is still impressive. Expect to see conger eels lurking in shadowed compartments, their thick bodies camouflaged against the rust. Jewel anemones speckle the plates, adding splashes of unexpected colour to the otherwise muted palette. This isn't a site for beginners; we’d suggest good drysuit skills and comfort with limited visibility are essential. Our favourite part is navigating the collapsed superstructure near the stern, imagining the chaos of her final moments. It's a dive that rewards preparation with a real sense of history.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.469950, -3.010883
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
45m

Marine Protected Area: East of Start Point

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 URSA (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 URSA (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