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HMS ELEANOR (PROBABLY)

The HMS Eleanor (probably) isn’t just a dive, it’s a bit of an archaeological mystery. We love how the ‘probably’ in the name perfectly captures the spirit of diving these historical wrecks off Cornwall. Dropping down to 36 metres, you hit the bow first, often pushing through a hazy green layer where the light struggles to penetrate. But then the wreck emerges, quite dramatically. This isn’t a pick-apart-the-pieces kind of wreck. The Eleanor, a bulk carrier sunk in 1918, lies largely intact, though time and tide have certainly taken their toll. You can easily identify the two massive boilers, often swathed in plumose anemones, and the triple-expansion engine is still quite recognisable. Our favourite bits are always the cargo holds; they’re often packed with shoals of bib and pouting, swirling like liquid silver as you pass. Keep an eye out for resident conger eels tucked into any dark crevice. The site suits experienced divers comfortable with deeper, often low-visibility conditions. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a treasure hunt to piece together the ship’s story.