WONDER

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Les Minquiers

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) - WONDER 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 36m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Wonder is a proper British wreck, sitting in good depth for a solid dive. We love this site for its history, even if the wreck itself is pretty broken up these days. She went down in 1888, a sailing vessel caught out in a storm. Now, she’s a scattering of frames and hull plates, all coated in a thick velvet of plumose anemones. Dropping down, you're looking for those distinct shapes emerging from the gloom. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is off Cornwall, but on a good day, it's an atmospheric dive. We'd suggest aiming for slack water, otherwise, you'll be working against a decent push of current. Look closely amongst the wreckage; you'll spot plenty of blennies tucked into crevices and often a conger eel or two peering out from the deeper sections. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the skeletal remains of history, rather than a perfectly preserved ship. Best suited for experienced divers comfortable in low visibility and deeper water.