wreck

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INGENIEUR MAXIME HESSE

The Ingenieur Maxime Hesse, a tug that went down in 1921, is one of our favourite Cornwall wrecks for a few simple reasons. It’s a proper ship, not just a pile of rubble, and it sits upright at a very manageable 20 metres. We love dropping onto the stern, often with decent visibility, and finding the prop still very much there, usually covered in anemones and dead man’s fingers. From there, you can trace the deck forward. The wheelhouse is gone, but the general shape is still clear. Look for conger eels tucked into any dark space and wrasse patrolling the perimeter. It’s a compact wreck, so you can take your time, poke around, and still do a good circuit in 30 minutes of bottom time. For divers who appreciate historical wrecks that still look like ships, rather than just scattered debris, this one’s a real treat. We’d suggest diving it on a neap tide for the best conditions, as currents can pick up a bit here.