wreck

Log This Dive

HALLOWEEN

Halloween, a sailing ship from the China tea trade, came to grief at Soar Mill Cove in 1887. What’s left of her lies scattered across the rocky seabed, but don't let "distributed remains" put you off. This isn't one of those featureless debris fields. We’ve always found it a surprisingly atmospheric dive, even at just 11 metres. You’ll drop onto a jumble of twisted metal and wooden timbers, the shape of the hull long gone, but the ghost of the ship still palpable. Look closely and you'll spot brass fixtures, often encrusted with dead man's fingers. Our favourite thing here is hunting for the smaller details, like sections of decking or perhaps a chain plate half-buried in the sand. Conger eels love to poke their heads out from under the larger plates, and we often see spider crabs scuttling across the rock. It’s an easy, shallow dive, best done on a calm day with minimal swell, as the cove can get pretty lively. Visibility can be a bit hit-and-miss, like much of the UK, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight filtering through, the scattered wreckage takes on a really unique character. It’s perfect for a second dive or for divers who appreciate the history as much as the marine life. Just remember it's a sheltered spot, so don't expect screaming drift dives here.