wreck

Log This Dive

G-ARLS

Diving a plane wreck always feels a bit different, doesn't it? The G-ARLS, a Piper Aztec that ditched off the Cornish coast in '75, is one of those dives we just love. It’s sitting upright in about 22 metres, and remarkably intact for an aircraft that just dropped out of the sky. You’ll find the cockpit section still largely together, and it’s a genuinely eerie feeling to peer into the gauges. Our favourite part is swimming around the wings; they’re often draped in dead man’s fingers, swaying gently with the surge. Look closely and you’ll spot gobies hiding in the crevices, and sometimes a sneaky conger eel peeking from beneath the fuselage. Visibility here can be hit or miss, typical for the UK, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight filtering through, the sight of that plane on the seabed is pretty special. It’s a manageable dive for most experienced open water divers, though we’d always suggest checking conditions; currents can pick up. Definitely one for the wreck log, especially if you’re collecting aircraft.