wreck

Log This Dive

HARTBURN (PROBABLY)

The Hartburn is one of those deeper wrecks that really sticks with you, a proper historical piece lying off Start Point. We love diving a wreck that has a story, and the Hartburn, sunk by a mine in 1917, definitely delivers on that front. Dropping down, you’ll find her upright on the seabed at 48 metres, quite intact for her age. The two large boilers are usually the first thing that resolves out of the murk, standing proud and covered in plumose anemones, often swaying gently in the current. It’s a big wreck, 92 metres long, so you won’t see it all in one dive, especially at this depth. We’d suggest focusing on the midships around the engine room, where the triple expansion engine is still recognisable, or exploring the bow section. Look for conger eels tucked into the darker recesses and jewel anemones adding splashes of colour to the rust. Visibility here can be hit or miss, typical for the English Channel, but when it's good, seeing the scale of her materialise from the blue is quite something. This is a dive for experienced wreck divers comfortable with deco, a proper deep exploration rather than a casual swim.