VILLE DE MALAGA - Cornwall & Devon

The Ville de Malaga, sitting at a comfortable 20 metres, is one of our favourite Channel Islands wrecks. This isn't a site for deep penetration, but a fantastic opportunity to explore the remains of a significant steamship. The wreck lies broken, a testament to that wild August night in 1897, but there’s still plenty to see. We often find conger eels peering from dark recesses, their thick bodies shifting within the steel, and spider crabs scuttling over the plates. Visibility here can be genuinely surprising on a good day, allowing you to appreciate the scale of the 73-metre hull. Look for the engine block, often a magnet for shoals of bib and pouting that swirl around the structure. The kelp forest sways above the shallower parts, providing a dramatic backdrop. It's a dive that tells a story, a proper piece of maritime history colonised by the sea, and we’d suggest timing your dive for slack water to really take it all in.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.738050, -2.342783
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

Marine Protected Area: Gouliot Caves and Headland, Sark

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 VILLE DE MALAGA

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 VILLE DE MALAGA

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