wreck

Log This Dive

MARIA ASUMPTA

The Maria Asumpta, off Pentire Point, is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s an old girl, built way back in 1858, a three-masted barque that met her end in 1995. We love how much of her remains; you can really get a feel for her scale at 37.5 metres long. Her bow points west, often catching the last rays of sun filtering through the water. Diving the Asumpta, you drop onto her deck and immediately notice the mast sections lying across the hull. The stern is probably our favourite part, with the propeller and rudder still in place – a dramatic sight as the current tugs at your fins. Schools of pollack often swirl around the broken deckhouses, darting in and out of the shadows. Look closely at the ribs of the hull, now draped in dead man's fingers and colourful jewel anemones. The engine room is accessible for those with the right training, and inside, the two large oil engines are still largely intact, a testament to her last journey. This is a dive that suits those with a bit of wreck experience, comfortable with depths down to around 30 metres, and who appreciate a wreck with a real story. The visibility here can vary wildly, so pick a calm day with an incoming tide for the best chance of a clear run.