wreck

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HEATHER ANNE

The *Heather Anne* is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to in Lyme Bay, an absolute cracker for a shallow dive. She went down in late 2011, and while a tragedy for her crew, she’s become a fantastic artificial reef. At just 18m, it’s a site that gives you plenty of bottom time to really snoop around. You drop onto her stern, often right onto the propeller which still stands proud. The boat itself is a compact 11 metres, largely intact, and you can swim through the wheelhouse – it’s a bit of a squeeze but worth it to see the dash still in place. Around the deck, the fishing gear is strewn about, lines and nets forming little habitats for blennies and gobies. What we love most is the sheer density of plumose anemones, especially around the mast and the bow, their white polyps a stark contrast against the dark steel. We’ve found dogfish resting in the sand just off her bow and, if you’re lucky, you might spot a lobster tucked deep inside. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate a well-preserved wreck and enjoy searching for the smaller stuff. Dive it on a slack tide for the best visibility, which can hit 10 metres on a good day, allowing the light to really bring out those anemones.