WARILDA - Cornwall & Devon

The Warilda is one of those wrecks that just grabs you. Down at 42 metres, it’s a deep dive and often dark, but when the conditions are good, the sheer scale of this hospital ship is incredible. She’s over 125 metres long, broken into three main sections after being torpedoed in 1918. We love dropping onto the stern, where you can often find conger eels peering from the deeper recesses. The Warilda is a serious historical dive; you’re looking at a piece of wartime history, a ship carrying wounded soldiers home. Visibility can be a real mixed bag here, sometimes only a few metres, other times 15 or more. When it’s clear, you can really appreciate the twisted metalwork, now heavily encrusted with plumose anemones and dead man’s fingers. Look out for huge shoals of pollack hanging above the main structure, their silver scales glinting in what little light penetrates this deep. It’s a dive for experienced wreck lovers, comfortable with depth and potentially challenging conditions. Our advice? Pick your day carefully, ideally with a slack tide window, and bring a good torch; there’s a lot to explore.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.300667, -0.301500
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
42m

Marine Protected Area: Offshore Brighton

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 WARILDA

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 WARILDA

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