wreck

Log This Dive

Nanos, wreck

The Nanos wreck, deep off the Istrian coast, is a proper technical dive. We’re talking 61 metres, so bring your doubles and your deco gas. This isn't a beginner's playground, but for those with the training, it’s a seriously rewarding trip down memory lane. The Nanos was a cargo ship, sunk during World War II, and she sits upright on the seabed, remarkably intact. Dropping down, the bow comes into view first, rising eerily from the gloom. We love seeing the deck guns still in place, covered in a thick carpet of yellow sponges and gorgonians. There are plenty of swim-throughs into the cargo holds, but watch your buoyancy and fin kicks – stirred up silt can blind you in seconds. Look out for conger eels peering from the darker corners and schools of juvenile fish darting around the superstructure. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the propeller is still attached, encrusted with anemones. It’s a powerful feeling to see something so perfectly preserved, a true time capsule at the edge of the continental shelf. Go early to avoid any boat traffic if you can, and always dive with an experienced guide who knows the site.