wreck

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KOPANES

Okay, let's talk Kopanes. Forget what you think you know about Icelandic diving. This isn't about pelagics or volcanic vents. Kopanes is a pure wreck dive, sitting in the approaches to Grindavik Harbour, just 2 metres down. We love it because it’s so accessible, a true piece of maritime history you can practically walk to from shore. The fishing vessel went down in 1973 after its tow wire snapped, and it’s been weathering the North Atlantic ever since. What you get now is a skeletal hull, 26.5 metres long, broken open in places, offering plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. We’ve spent whole dives just poking around the engine room, or what’s left of it, imagining the life that played out on its decks. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, the light plays through the gaps in the hull, giving the whole wreck an ethereal, almost stained-glass quality. It’s a shallow, easy dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to spend a relaxed hour with a piece of history.