wreck

Log This Dive

ARTESIEN

Artesien is one of our favourite deep wrecks in the Calanques, a proper diver’s wreck if you’re comfortable at depth. This steamship went down in 1944, a casualty of a torpedo, and now rests upright at 48 metres. Dropping down, you’ll start to make out the sheer size of her, over 100 metres long, with a proud bow and stern that still feel imposing. We love finning along the deck, picking out details like winches and the remains of her superstructure, all wonderfully encrusted with gorgonians and sponges. The cargo holds are open, inviting a peek inside – just remember your torch, it gets dark down there. It’s not just the wreck itself; the resident marine life is fantastic. Conger eels poke their heads from every dark crevice, lobsters wave antennae from beneath plates of steel, and schools of anchovies often swirl above the mast. It’s a dive that combines history with serious atmosphere, best appreciated on a calm day when the visibility really opens up. Go early to avoid other boats.