wreck

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ELPIS 1

Elpis 1 is a standout site, a real DivePlnr favourite on Ustica. We love this wreck for its character, sitting upright and mostly intact since 1978. Dropping down, you feel the chill of the deep, even at just 17 metres. Her structure is still very much a ship, not just a pile of debris, which means good penetration for those with the right training, especially into the cargo hold. The ambient light filtering in through the open hatches creates these dramatic shafts, illuminating schools of glasseye and occasional barracuda patrolling the deck. We usually find an octopus tucked into a crevice, or a moray eel peeking from a porthole. The hull is now a textured landscape of sponges and tunicates, a gentle explosion of purples and yellows against the grey steel. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits – each time you’ll spot something new, a detail missed before, like the faint lettering on a gauge in the wheelhouse. It suits divers who appreciate a wreck with a story, not just a coral garden, and it's perfect for a second dive when you’re looking for something with a bit of history.