wreck

Log This Dive

ELTHAM

The Eltham is a wreck that truly tells a story. We’ve always been drawn to wrecks with a bit of history, and this coaster, sunk in 1918, feels like a time capsule. Descending onto the site, the first thing you notice is how she’s broken in two, the bow and stern sections lying separated but still recognisable. It’s not a huge wreck, but that just means it’s more approachable, even on a day when the current is running a little. Inside the hold, if you fancy a quick penetration, you’ll often find conger eels coiled up, their thick bodies blending into the shadows. Around the deck plating, lobsters are tucked into every crevice, waving their antennae as you pass. The real magic here is in the details – the barnacle-encrusted davits, the remains of the ship’s structure now completely colonised by plumose anemones, swaying gently in the surge. It’s a site that rewards a slow exploration, really looking at how nature has reclaimed the steel. We’d suggest hitting it on a neap tide for the calmest conditions; it just makes lingering that much easier.