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HMS BITTERN (PARTS OF)(PROBABLY)

Diving the *Bittern* is always an adventure, and yes, the "probably" in the name just adds to the charm. Dropping to 54 metres, this C-class destroyer, sunk after a collision in 1918, is a deep dive, making it one for experienced technical divers. We love the way the wreck has settled, largely intact, offering glimpses into its past. You can still make out the twin shafts and the general lines of her hull, often draped in thick layers of plumose anemones, their tentacles swaying gently in the current. The *Bittern* is a proper historical dive, not just a pile of scrap. We find the bow section particularly compelling, sometimes with schooling pollack darting through the rusted plating. Visibility can be a bit of a gamble here, typical for the Channel, but on a good day, when the light penetrates, the sheer scale of the wreck at that depth is something else. Our favourite moments are often spent just drifting along the deck, imagining her 12-pounder guns and torpedo tubes, now long gone, but the ghosts of them remain. Keep an eye out for conger eels tucked into any available crevice; they’re often bigger than you’d expect. This site really suits divers who appreciate the history as much as the challenge of a deeper wreck.