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HMS Coriolanus

The HMS Coriolanus, off the coast of Istria, is one of those wrecks that just hits right. It’s a British Royal Navy trawler, sunk in 1945 by a mine, and it sits upright on the seabed, pretty much intact. We love how the whole ship feels frozen in time. You can still make out the anti-aircraft gun on the bow, and the stern is particularly dramatic, twisted but recognisable. Our favourite part has to be the bridge section; there’s so much to explore there, with swim-throughs that aren’t too tight but still offer a proper wreck experience. As you descend, the sheer size of it starts to emerge from the blue, usually with barracuda circling above. Inside, the light filters through portholes, illuminating schools of chromis darting through the skeletal remains of the superstructure. We’ve seen conger eels poking their heads out from every nook and cranny, and nudibranchs are always a treat on the encrusted metalwork. It’s a fantastic dive for advanced open water divers who appreciate history and don't mind a longer bottom time to really soak it all in. Go early in the morning for the best light and fewer boats.