wreck

Log This Dive

ELFORD

The Elford is a proper wreck dive, sitting upright and mostly intact at 17 metres. We really rate it for its sheer scale; 77 metres long, she's a big old steamship from 1915, sunk by a mine in 1917. You can really get a sense of her original form, with those two huge boilers still standing proud, creating a perfect shelter for conger eels. We've often seen them poking their heads out, looking grumpy. This isn't a tricky dive, so it’s great for anyone comfortable with a bit of overhead, though entry and exit on a bouncy day can be a bit of a workout. The stern is particularly photogenic, often draped in dead man's fingers, and we love finding the prop shaft, which gives you a real feel for the engineering of the era. On a clear day, the light through the remaining deck structures is fantastic, illuminating the schools of pouting that mill around the holds. Visibility can be hit or miss, so pick your weather window; slack water is key here, otherwise, the current can be a nuisance.