wreck

Log This Dive

CRISTINA

We’ve spent some quality time on the Cristina, and it really is a standout for wreck diving in this part of the UK. This steamship, once the Kiora and Cadiz II, went down in 1918, and time has given it a beautiful, eerie character. Lying at 35 metres, she’s a dive for those comfortable with deeper water and decent bottom time management. Drop down onto the Cristina and you’re immediately struck by her size – 85.9 metres feels substantial when you’re finning along her deck. The twin boilers are still prominent, often swarming with pollack that seem to shimmer in the shafting light. We love nosing around the engine room, where the triple expansion engine still hints at her working life. It's a dark and silty penetration, but very rewarding. Look out for the nudibranchs that cling to the metalwork, their colours a stark contrast to the rust. On a good visibility day, when the sun penetrates the gloom, you can feel the history of the place. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide, the currents here can be a bit of a nuisance otherwise, making it harder to appreciate the wreck's scale. This isn't a dive for spotting big pelagics, but for wreck enthusiasts who enjoy exploring a well-preserved piece of maritime history, the Cristina delivers a genuinely immersive experience. The feeling of swimming through the ship's past is what makes this wreck truly special.