wreck

Log This Dive

Le Hellcat

Dropping onto the Hellcat, there’s an immediate sense of history. This American fighter plane, a Grumman F6F-5, went down in 1944 and now rests in two main sections, the fuselage and the wings, spread across a sandy bottom. We love how relatively intact it is, even after all these years. You can still make out the cockpit area and the engine cowling, a real eerie beauty. It’s not just a pile of metal either; sponges and anemones have taken hold, and we often spot conger eels peeking out from darker corners. For photographers, the light here can be incredible, filtering down onto the wreck, especially in the late morning. It’s a manageable dive, rarely deep, making it perfect for those wanting a taste of wreck diving without extreme challenges. Just watch for occasional fishing lines, they can be a nuisance.