wreck

Log This Dive

GRIQUALAND

The Griqualand wreck, resting at 45 metres, is our pick for divers who appreciate a good story with their dive. She’s a merchant vessel, torpedoed by a South African Navy frigate in 1971 after a fire made her a danger to shipping. We love that detail, a real piece of history down there. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is her sheer size, 70 metres long. The bridge is pretty much gone, but the engine room is accessible if you’re comfortable with overhead environments and have the right training. Schools of giant trevally often circle the stern, and we’ve seen ragged-tooth sharks cruising past the bow section more than once. The mast still stands, usually decorated with lionfish. If you get there early, before other boats, the light filtering through the open deck sections creates an incredible, moody atmosphere. We’d suggest a twinset and a good torch; there are plenty of nooks to poke into. It's a deep dive, definitely one for experienced wreck divers comfortable with deco.