wreck

Log This Dive

JAMES MCGEE

The *James McGee* is one of those wrecks that just delivers a proper dive. Lying in a respectable 18 metres, it’s a brilliant spot for anyone comfortable navigating inside a structure, but equally rewarding if you prefer to just cruise over the top. We really enjoy how much of the tanker remains intact. You can easily identify the stern, where the triple-expansion engine room is now an open cavern of steel, big enough for a couple of divers to explore. Look for the four distinct boilers, often draped in plumose anemones, their white tentacles waving gently in the mild current. Our favourite part is the bow section; it's a mangled mess, but it’s where you’ll find some great nooks and crannies for conger eels. Keep an eye out for them peeking from collapsed plates, and the resident pollack often mill around the deeper parts of the structure. Visibility here can be hit or miss, typical for the English Channel, so aim for a neap tide for the calmest conditions and best light penetration. It’s a solid wreck dive, often overlooked for its flashier neighbours, but absolutely worth the effort.