VENDEMIAIRE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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) - VENDEMIAIRE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 53m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Vendemiaire, a French Navy submarine lost in 1912, lies deep in the often-turbulent waters off Cornwall. This isn't a dive for the faint of heart, or for those new to deeper wreck diving. We're talking 53 metres, so proper training and gas planning are essential. What you get in return, though, is a genuinely atmospheric experience. Dropping down, the light fades quickly, often giving way to a green glow from the surface. The Vendemiaire itself is remarkably intact for its age and depth. You can make out the conning tower, the hydroplanes, even the torpedo tubes, all draped in fishing nets and growth. It's an eery, silent place. The resident conger eels are huge here, peering out from every opening. Lobsters scuttle into cracks as you approach, and we’ve seen some seriously big pollack hanging in the current just above the hull. Our favourite part is exploring the deck. It’s covered in jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers, glowing under a good torch beam. Visibility can be a challenge, sometimes as little as five metres, but on a good day, when the slack tide hits just right, you get a real sense of the submarine's scale. Come prepared for cold water, even in summer, and always dive it with a skipper who knows the marks well. It’s a challenging dive, but for experienced wreck divers, it's a profound one.