wreck

Log This Dive

MALLARD (POSSIBLY)

The Mallard, or at least what we’re pretty sure is the Mallard, is a proper technical dive, sitting deep at 48 metres. Dropping down, the visibility in this part of the Channel can be a lottery, but when it’s good, the structure slowly emerges from the gloom. She went down in 1940, a decent-sized motor vessel at nearly 50 metres long, and the years on the seabed have taken their toll, but the general shape is still there. We love exploring the engine room, which is often still surprisingly open, a real deep dive into maritime history. Look for the prop shaft running aft and the faint outlines of her deck machinery. The hull is well broken in places, creating nooks and crannies that are home to conger eels, and we’ve often spotted lobsters tucked into the plating. This is a dive for experienced technical divers, comfortable with decompression, who appreciate the silent, cold embrace of a historical wreck. It’s not about vibrant colours here, it’s about the atmosphere, the size of the structure, and the quiet dignity of a ship lost at sea. Plan for a decent bottom time to really appreciate the scale.