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HMS HICKORY

The HMS Hickory, off the coast of Cornwall, is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. Dropping down to 43 metres, the sheer scale of the 45-metre trawler starts to emerge from the gloom, its silhouette against the green light. She was built in 1940 and sunk by a mine that same year, taking 25 lives with her. We often spend our bottom time just taking in the sheer tragedy of it all; you can almost feel the history clinging to the hull. Despite the depth, the wreck is remarkably intact for a vessel of her age in these waters. The bow is particularly striking, often draped in a shimmering curtain of pollock and coalfish. We’ve found conger eels curled up in the deeper recesses, and the occasional inquisitive bib will follow you through the structure. Visibility can be a bit of a gamble, but on a good day, when the sun penetrates, the sight of light filtering through the superstructure is genuinely atmospheric. We'd suggest diving this one on a slack tide to make the most of your time exploring; the currents out here can be fierce. It’s a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, no question, offering a profound sense of history and a challenging but rewarding exploration.