VICTORINE

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) - VICTORINE 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 20m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The *Victorine* isn't one of those wrecks that jumps out at you with dramatic structure. Instead, what we love about this site is its quiet, almost meditative quality. Sitting on the seabed at 20 meters, this fishing vessel, sunk back in 1902, has largely collapsed, but that’s its charm. You’re not navigating tight corridors; you’re drifting over a landscape of tangled metal, a low-lying garden for crabs and lobsters. Visibility here can be a bit variable, as it often is in the channel, but on a good day, the way the sunlight filters down through the kelp just above is beautiful. Look closely amongst the plates and beams; we’ve found some surprisingly large conger eels tucked away, and the nudibranchs here are often spectacular. It’s a photographer’s wreck for the macro-minded, or for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of a wreck truly reclaimed by the sea. We’d suggest diving it on a neap tide for the calmest conditions, giving you more time to really scour the nooks and crannies. It's a proper British wreck dive, unassuming but full of life if you take the time to look.