wreck

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ESPERANCE

Esperance isn't just another wreck dive off Sweden's west coast, she's a proper time capsule. We think she's a standout not for giant pelagics, but for the sheer atmosphere and the way she holds her secrets. This fishing vessel went down in 1945, and she still sits upright, almost perfectly intact at 29 metres. Dropping down, the bow looms first, then the whole silhouette emerges from the green-blue, usually with decent visibility for Sweden. Her wooden structure is still remarkably solid, and we love poking around the hold, imagining the crew's last moments. The wheelhouse is still there, a little crumbly, but you can feel the history. Expect to find plenty of squat lobsters tucked into every crevice, and often decent sized cod cruising the deck. The light filtering through the water here gives it a ghostly feel, especially deeper into the wreck. This is a dive for those who appreciate history and close-up exploration, rather than wide-angle reef shots. Best dived on a calm day, as the surface can get choppy, and the descent line can get a bit swingy. We’d suggest a torch; it really brings out the texture of the timbers and the lurking critters inside.