wreck

Log This Dive

MARKGRAF

The Markgraf is one of those wrecks that just speaks to you, even from the surface. We love that it’s right there, practically beachside, but still manages to feel like a secret. This isn’t a deep dive, barely two metres at high tide, but what it lacks in depth it makes up for in history and character. You’re swimming over the remains of a German steamship, sunk in 1914, its skeletal ribs breaking the surface. It’s an ideal spot for a snorkel or a very shallow dive, perfect for photographers wanting to play with the interplay of light and shadow on the rusted metal. We’d suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, but even at low, the sheer scale of the wreck is impressive. Look closely amongst the twisted metal, and you’ll find small schools of snapper and surgeonfish darting in and out, while anemones and soft corals have begun to colonise the hull sections below the waterline. It's a striking reminder of Dar es Salaam's colonial past, now reclaimed by the ocean.