wreck

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GERLEN (POSSIBLY)

The Gerlen, sitting upright at 48 metres, is one of those wrecks that just keeps giving. We’ve spent hours poring over her, exploring the open holds where conger eels lurk, and weaving through the twisted superstructure that’s now a skeletal frame for plumose anemones. It’s a deep dive, no doubt, but the visibility here can be surprisingly good, making the details of the collision damage on her port side quite clear. What we really love about the Gerlen is the sheer volume of fish life – pollack drift through the holds, often alongside schooling bib. There’s a quiet satisfaction in tracing the remains of the deck, imagining the German motor vessel's final moments back in ’72. Our favourite approach is to drop onto the stern, work our way forward, then drift up the mast towards our deco. She’s a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, demanding good buoyancy and gas planning, but the rewards are immense. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a ling tucked away in the engine room.