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ALEX VAN OPSTAL

We think the *Alex van Opstal* is one of the better dives off the Lizard, a true standout among the Cornish wrecks. She was a big girl, 128 metres of cargo ship, and when she hit a mine in 1939, she went down quickly, breaking into three main sections. You’ll find her sitting upright at 28 metres, which means you get to really appreciate her scale. We love swimming the length of her, feeling that cold metal rise out of the gloom. The stern section, with its enormous propeller, is our favourite part. Look closely around the prop blades for conger eels, some of them are huge here. Heading forward, you can often duck into the cargo holds if you're comfortable with overhead environments and good on your buoyancy. Just remember to bring a decent torch – it gets dark in there. The bow lies a little further off, often a bit more broken up, but still home to clouds of jewel anemones, all those vibrant oranges and pinks against the steel. The visibility here can be a bit hit or miss, typical for the UK, but when it's good, say 10 metres, it's a magnificent dive. It's a dive for experienced wreck lovers, no doubt. The current can pick up, so time your dive for slack water.