wreck

Log This Dive

AMBIORIX

The Ambiorix, she’s a proper deep dive, sitting at 55 metres off the Cornish coast. We’re talking about a steamship that went down after a collision in 1917, so there’s a real sense of history here. Drop down, and the wreck emerges from the gloom, a dark silhouette on the seabed. The ship itself, 76 metres long, is largely intact. You can really get a feel for her lines, the bow and stern still well-defined. We love tracing the deck, imagining the crew on board just before she went down. The main draw for us is the penetration opportunities – there are some accessible holds and engine room sections that offer a fantastic delve into the past, provided you’re experienced and properly equipped, of course. What always surprises us is the sheer number of conger eels that call her home. They peer out from every nook and cranny, their heads like thick grey ropes. Lobsters scuttle across the plates, and the entire structure is a tapestry of jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers, glowing under the torch beam. Visibility can be hit or miss, but on a good day, it’s an incredible, haunting dive for technical divers who appreciate a deep, historical wreck with plenty to explore.