wreck

Log This Dive

ARMENIER

The Armenier is a curious beast, a coastal steamer that met its end not by German U-boat, but courtesy of the RAF, used as target practice for their bombing range. We think that’s a pretty unique backstory for a wreck. She sits in incredibly shallow water, barely a metre deep at high tide, which means you’re often diving this one on snorkel or very shallow SCUBA, perhaps even a freedive if you’re quick. What you get here is a proper wreck skeleton. Her ribs poke up through the surface on lower tides, stark against the sky. We love finning over the remains of her hull, picking out plates and beams, imagining her steaming along the coast before her rather explosive retirement. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – the shallow water and strong currents mean you’ll find plenty of crabs, small wrasse, and often a flurry of silver fish darting through the rusted metalwork. It’s a site that really comes alive when the sun is out, dappling light through the water and illuminating the wreck’s structure. We’d suggest going at slack tide for the clearest views, though even with a bit of movement, the sheer history here makes it worthwhile. It's not about big pelagics, it's about intimacy with a piece of history.