wreck

Log This Dive

LORNASTON (POSSIBLY)

The *Lornaston* holds a certain kind of solemn beauty. We love diving a wreck that tells such a clear story, and this steamship, torpedoed in 1945, certainly does. Dropping down to 52 metres, you’re enveloped by the deep, green embrace of the English Channel. It’s a site for experienced divers, no doubt, demanding good buoyancy and comfort with depth. We’ve always been drawn to how intact she is for a wartime casualty. Her sheer scale, 124 metres long, makes for an impressive dive, and you can still trace the outline of her bridge structure, though time and currents have done their work. Keep an eye out for the big conger eels tucked into the deeper recesses and the nudibranchs that pepper the plating, especially around the bow. Our favourite approach is to drop onto the stern and work our way forward, letting the current, if it’s mild, carry us gently over the main deck. It’s a proper expedition, and surfacing after a dive here, you always feel like you’ve touched a piece of history.