wreck

Log This Dive

DORETHEA

Dorethea is one of those west coast wrecks that just delivers. We love it because it’s small, intimate, and packed with character, feeling more like a time capsule than just another pile of metal. Dropping down to 38 metres, you’ll find this 16-metre fishing vessel sitting upright, largely intact. You can fin right around the wheelhouse, imagining the last moments before she went down. Our favourite part is the way the local marine life has utterly colonised her. Expect to see wolf fish peering out from nooks and crannies, their thick lips and grumpy faces always a treat. Conger eels sometimes coil in the deeper shadows of the engine room. The wreck’s smaller size means it feels manageable, not overwhelming, even at depth. We’d suggest tackling Dorethea on a calmer day; the exposed location can mean a bit of a bumpy ride out, but underwater, the currents are usually light. It’s a proper dive for anyone who appreciates the quiet drama of an old fishing boat, well-preserved, and now a living reef.