wreck

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KINGSDYKE

The Kingsdyke, sunk by a German U-boat in 1918, is a proper technical wreck dive, sitting upright at 60 metres. This isn't one for the faint-hearted or those with limited gas planning. What we love about her is the sheer scale and the way she’s been taken over by the ocean. The bow section is particularly impressive, with her anchor chains still visible, draped like ancient jewellery. Dropping down, the visibility in this part of Lyme Bay can be surprising, often 10-15 metres on a good day, but it’s still an ethereal descent into the gloom. We’ve seen conger eels the size of small trees living in her cargo holds, their heads poking out from twisted metal. Giant plumose anemones coat every surface, swaying gently in the subtle current. The stern is more broken up, but you can still make out the prop shaft leading to where the huge propeller once was. This is a dive for experienced deep wreck divers who appreciate the historical context and the dramatic, stark beauty of a century-old steel ghost. Expect multiple decompression stops and cold water, even in summer.