WILHELMINA J

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Beachy Head West

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) - WILHELMINA J 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 51m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Wilhelmina J, lying deep at 51 metres, is a serious dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. We’re talking about a classic British fishing vessel, sitting upright and surprisingly intact on the seabed, despite her violent end in a collision back in 1991. What we love about her is the story she tells – a proper maritime tragedy in thick fog and darkness, and the subsequent, solemn return to the seabed after the crew were recovered. Dropping down, the visibility can be variable, as is often the case in these waters, but when it’s good, the sheer bulk of her emerges from the gloom, almost ghostly. You can still make out the wheelhouse, the mast, and the general layout of a working trawler. The stern, in particular, is a favourite spot of ours, often draped in fishing nets, home to wrasse and pollock that dart in and out of the shadows. There’s a quiet solemnity down there; it feels like you're visiting a forgotten monument. For those who appreciate the history as much as the structure itself, and are comfortable with the depth and potential for colder, darker water, the Wilhelmina J is a truly rewarding dive.