VANESSA (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The Vanessa, or at least what we *think* is the Vanessa, is a real favourite of ours when we're diving off the Cornish coast. It's not a grand ocean liner, but this little 5.5m cabin cruiser, sitting upright at 29m, has a quiet charm that’s hard to beat. Dropping down, you’ll find the wheelhouse largely intact, and we love to poke around where the dashboard would have been, imagining the last moments before she went down in '81. It’s completely colonised now, a soft blanket of plumose anemones and dead man's fingers transforming the fibreglass hull into a living reef. You'll often find conger eels tucked away inside the small cabin, their heads peering out, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large lobsters sheltering beneath the stern. For divers who appreciate intimate wreck encounters and don't mind a bit of a treasure hunt – figuring out what’s what on such a small, encrusted vessel – the Vanessa is a brilliant pick. It’s perfect for a second dive when you want something a bit more relaxed but still genuinely interesting. We’d suggest going on a slack tide, as the visibility can be excellent then, really letting you appreciate the details.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.742750, -1.081367
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
29m

Marine Protected Area: St Helen's Duver & Priory Wood

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 VANESSA (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 VANESSA (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