wreck

Log This Dive

HM LCT 427 (FWD PART)

We love a wreck with a story, and the forward section of HM LCT 427 certainly has one. Sunk after a collision with the massive HMS Rodney on D-Day, this landing craft lies broken but still formidable at 39 metres. Descending, you’ll first discern the stern profile, then the sheer scale of the bow section emerges, often cloaked in the gloom that gives deeper UK dives their atmosphere. What makes this LCT really sing are the cargo bays. We find them easily penetrable, offering a glimpse into the vessel's operational past. Keep an eye out for the davits, too, which are often draped in dead man's fingers, a favourite hideout for conger eels – some of them absolute monsters. Visibility here can be tricky, so our advice is to aim for slack water on a neap tide, which usually offers the clearest conditions. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and enjoy the challenge of a deeper, darker wreck, not for beginners. The cold water does mean the marine growth can be sparse, but we’ve always found enough life to make the exploration worthwhile, particularly the anemones that stud the harder metal surfaces, their tentacles swaying gently in the residual current.