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PETIT FOLMAR

The Petit Folmar wreck offers a moody, atmospheric dive, very different from the sun-drenched reefs most divers chase. This old carrier, sunk in a ferocious storm in 1999, lies upright at 21 metres. We find it incredibly poignant, especially knowing the story of the lost crew. Descending, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale. At over 50 metres long, there's plenty to explore. The wheelhouse is a tangled mess, but the cargo holds are surprisingly open, inviting cautious penetration if you’re experienced and properly equipped. Visibility here can be hit or miss, typical for the North Sea. But on a good day, with a bit of ambient light filtering down, you get these incredible silhouettes of the wreck structure against the greenish water. What we really love is how the marine life has claimed it. It’s not about corals here. Think huge plumose anemones waving like ghostly flags, nudibranchs slowly crawling over the rusting metal, and schools of cod or pollack schooling in the darker recesses. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits, revealing more of its secrets each time. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide to avoid any strong currents, which can make the penetration sections a bit hairy. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and a more rugged, less manicured underwater experience.