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HMS Cornwallis

The HMS Cornwallis is a bit of a mystery, but one we’re always happy to explore. We’re talking about a proper battleship, a Duncan-class pre-dreadnought, that went down in 1901. You’re not getting a perfectly preserved time capsule here; she’s broken up, scattered across the seabed off Comino, but that’s part of her charm. We love tracing the distinct shapes of her hull plates and massive boiler sections, imagining the sheer scale of the vessel when she was whole. Visibility is often excellent, letting you appreciate the sheer size of the debris field. Keep an eye out for loggerhead turtles; they’re known to cruise by, unbothered by divers. Our favourite moments are finding the more intact sections, where schools of damselfish hover, and the occasional octopus peeks from a crevice. It’s a dive for those who enjoy piecing together history from scattered remains, rather than swimming through an intact ghost ship. We’d suggest a good dive light to really pick out the details in the deeper sections and bring out the colours on the encrusting sponges. Strong currents can be a factor here, so check conditions before you drop.