wreck

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CHARLES H. SALTER

Forget the crystal-clear splits of Silfra for a moment. If you’re in Thingvellir, our pick for a totally different kind of Icelandic dive has to be the Charles H. Salter. This isn't your pretty reef wreck; this is a proper old steamer, resting broken on the seabed since 1946. We love how the story unfolds as you descend – a cargo ship on its way from Hull to Reykjavik, now a scattered monument off Landeyjarsandur. At 12 metres, it’s a relatively shallow dive, but don’t mistake that for easy. The water can be cold, genuinely cold, and often a little murky, but that just adds to the atmosphere. You’ll find stern plates and twisted metal, the remains of the ship’s structure slowly surrendering to the North Atlantic. Keep an eye out for the local cod and flatfish; they’ve made this wreckage their home, darting between the skeletal ribs of the hull. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the raw power of the ocean more than vibrant colours. This one really suits divers who appreciate a wreck with a tangible narrative, and who don't mind trading coral for colder, deeper blues and the stark beauty of a ship long lost.