wreck

Log This Dive

ELSA (POSSIBLY)

The Elsa, a Norwegian steamer, went down in 1918 and now sits upright at 45 metres. She’s a big wreck, over 100 metres long, and because she’s so intact, she offers some truly excellent penetration opportunities for suitably qualified divers. We love dropping down the shot line and seeing her emerge from the gloom, the twin boilers standing proud, the triple expansion engine still impressive. Her scale alone is impressive. You can explore her length, picking out deck fittings encrusted with plumose anemones, and peer into cargo holds that now house bib and conger eels. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss in the English Channel, but on a good day, watching the light filter down onto the stern, where the prop shaft leads to a huge, four-bladed propeller, is pretty special. It's a deep dive, requiring proper planning and gas management, but for those with the experience, the Elsa is a seriously rewarding piece of history.