wreck

Log This Dive

ETHEL (PROBABLY)

The Ethel, or what we’re pretty sure is the Ethel, sits deep off the Cornish coast, a proper wreck dive for those who like their history cold and dark. She went down in 1918, a torpedo victim, and now rests upright on the seabed at 34 metres. Descending, you feel the chill of the thermocline bite, then the ghostly outline of her bows emerges from the gloom. We love exploring the midships, where the triple expansion engine rises like a monstrous metal sculpture, draped in dead man's fingers. Our favourite spot is usually around the stern, where conger eels lurk in the twisted plates, their heads the size of small dogs. There are always pollack darting through the superstructure, and the occasional inquisitive bib will follow you along the deck. Visibility here is rarely spectacular, often 5-10 metres on a good day, but it lends a real atmosphere to the dive, a sense of discovery in the murk. This isn’t a colourful coral dive; it’s a dive for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the stark beauty of a century-old steel tomb and the hardy marine life that has claimed it. Bring a good torch and a keen eye.