wreck

Log This Dive

MALLORQUIN

Mallorquin, just off the Costa Brava, is a proper slice of history. We’re not talking some obscure pile of metal, this is the wooden fishing vessel that went down after colliding with the Dutch cruiser, De Ruyter, back in ’64. The wreck sits shallow, around 12 metres, so it’s perfect for a longer dive, letting you really soak it all in. You'll find the Mallorquin largely intact, or at least its skeleton. The wooden hull has softened over the decades, becoming a canvas for encrusting sponges and swaying gorgonians. Sunlight filters through the water, dappling the deck, where schools of damselfish flit in and out of the shadows. Look closely, and you’ll spot moray eels peeking from crevices, and the occasional octopus tucked away amongst the beams. We love drifting along the deck, imagining the collision, then moving into the open holds where big groupers sometimes rest. It’s a site that feels alive, not just a relic. Best dived mid-morning before the wind picks up, when the light is clearest.