wreck

Log This Dive

CLAN STUART

The Clan Stuart, a big steamer lying in 60 metres, isn't a casual dive. We’re talking proper technical diving, the kind where you spend more time planning than in the water. But for those with the training, it's an incredible piece of history. She went down in a fog-bound collision in 1940, and time has essentially frozen her in place. Dropping down, the sheer scale of the wreck starts to emerge. Her bows are impressive, towering out of the gloom. We love navigating through the holds, which are surprisingly open, now home to dense carpets of jewel anemones in every shade of orange and pink. Look for conger eels tucked into the darker recesses, sometimes surprisingly large ones. It’s a silty site, so good buoyancy is key to avoid really messing up visibility for everyone. Best dived on a slack tide, obviously, but even then, currents can be a factor further offshore. We'd suggest aiming for early summer, before the plankton really thickens the water, for the best chance of decent visibility. It’s a deep, dark dive, but for wreck enthusiasts, it's one of Cornwall’s real highlights.