wreck

Log This Dive

HMS HAZARDOUS

The HMS Hazardous is a proper piece of history, just poking out of the water at Bracklesham Bay. She’s shallow, obviously, with a maximum depth of 3m, so we’re talking snorkel or very easy dive territory here, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it's boring. This isn't about huge pelagics or dramatic drop-offs; it’s about touching a fragment of the past. We love seeing the timbers still holding their own after all these centuries. You can make out the ribs of the hull, encrusted with barnacles and seaweeds that wave gently with the tide. It feels less like a wreck and more like an archaeological dig, exposed by the sea. Our favourite time to visit is on a calm, sunny day, when the light penetrates right down, illuminating the rusty anchor chains and what we think might be some old cannonballs. It’s perfect for those days when you want a relaxed dip, maybe with the kids, or if you're just keen to see something genuinely old and a little bit haunting without needing to gear up for a technical dive. You'll find blennies darting between the timbers and tiny crabs scuttling over the wood, a little ecosystem thriving on a 300-year-old warship.