ZAANSTROOM - Cornwall & Devon

The *Zaanstroom* is one of our favourite Cornwall wrecks, a classic steamship that went down in 1911 and has settled beautifully into the seabed. At 28 metres, it’s a dive for those comfortable with deeper sites and a bit of current, which can sometimes sweep through here. What we love about her is how intact she remains; you can clearly pick out the bow, stern, and the midships where the twin boilers still stand proud. Swimming over the deck, you’ll often spot dogfish tucked into crevices and schools of pollack circling the superstructure. The engine room is a highlight, and with good visibility, you can really appreciate the scale of the triple-expansion engine. Bring a torch, even on sunny days, to really light up the jewel anemones that cling to every surface, especially inside the darker sections. We usually plan this as a longer dive, if conditions allow, to properly explore the cargo holds, which are now home to conger eels and edible crabs. It’s a proper historical dive, a real window into early 20th-century shipping, and a site that always delivers.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.652367, -0.616183
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
28m

Marine Protected Area: Kingmere

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 ZAANSTROOM

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 ZAANSTROOM

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