wreck

Log This Dive

ANDIANO

We love a good story behind a wreck, and the Andiano certainly has one: breaking down in good weather and drifting onto the Little Mewstone. It’s a 9.1-metre cruiser, a merchant vessel that went down in 2001. At just 6 metres, it’s a brilliant, shallow dive, perfect for extended bottom times and a more relaxed pace. The wreck itself is quite broken up now, spread across the rocky seabed. You won't find an intact hull, but instead, an interesting debris field. We’d suggest looking for the engine block, it’s often a hub of activity with small blennies peering out and crabs scuttling over the rusting metal. The plates and frames are colonised by jewel anemones, giving splashes of electric orange and pink against the grey rock. You’ll often spot dogfish eggs, mermaid's purses, swaying gently in the slight surge. The surrounding kelp forest provides a dramatic backdrop, with shoals of pollack darting through the fronds. This site is ideal for photographers looking for macro subjects or newer divers gaining confidence on wrecks. Dive it at slack water for the best visibility and to really appreciate the details.