wreck

Log This Dive

L'AFFRANCHIE (PROBABLY)

L'Affranchie is probably one of the more peculiar wrecks we’ve dived, and frankly, a bit of a local legend. It’s a shallow affair, sitting in just two metres of water, so we’re talking snorkel depth, or perhaps a leisurely free dive. Forget deep penetration, this is about poking around the remnants of a small motor vessel, lost way back in the 70s. We love how the hull has just sort of melted into the seabed over the decades, softened by the surge. The real charm here is the way the light plays on the broken metal, shafts of sun splintering through the surface and illuminating schools of tiny silversides darting in and out of the rusted frame. Look closely, and you’ll spot parrotfish nibbling algae off the corroded plates, and we often see small snapper tucked into the shadowy corners. It’s not about grand scale, but the intimacy of a wreck being slowly reclaimed. We’d suggest going in the late afternoon; the low sun really brings out the colours of the algae growing on the wreck. It’s a perfect spot for photographers looking for interesting light, or anyone who enjoys the quiet contemplation of history slowly dissolving.