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JOHN O'SCOTT

The John O’Scott, a coal steamer torpedoed in 1918, lies quietly at 52 metres off the Cornish coast. We love this wreck for its sheer scale and the way it’s settled on the seabed, offering proper penetration opportunities if you’re suitably trained. Drop down the shot line and you’ll find the bow section rearing up, often shrouded in a shoal of pout, their eyes reflecting your torch beam. Swim along the deck, past the two massive boilers, and you get a real sense of its former life. Our favourite spot is the engine room, where you can often spot conger eels tucked into crevices, their heads slowly swaying. The visibility here can be truly exceptional on a good day, easily 15 to 20 metres, letting you appreciate the wreck’s full silhouette against the gloomy deep. This isn't a dive for the faint of heart or the inexperienced; it's a deep, dark plunge into history, best suited for technical divers who appreciate the solemn beauty of a well-preserved wreck far below the surface.