wreck

Log This Dive

MARIA, JULIA & MATHILDA JEAN

Diving the trio of Belgian fishing trawlers, the Maria, Julia, and Mathilda Jean, is a proper journey back in time. These three went down together in 1918, sunk by a submarine, and they’ve settled on the seabed at 37 metres. What we love about this site is the way they’ve come to rest – close enough that you get a real sense of the event. You’re not going to find grand intact structures here; these are classic early 20th-century wooden fishing vessels, now broken but still recognisable as wrecks. What remains are frames, sections of hull, and the tell-tale scattering of pottery and bottles if you look closely. It’s a site for history buffs and those who appreciate the subtle beauty of a wreck reclaimed by the sea. We’ve found everything from hefty conger eels coiled in the deeper sections to colourful jewel anemones coating the exposed timbers. Visibility can be typical English Channel, around 5-10 metres, so a good torch is essential for peering into the darker spots. Expect a decent current sometimes, so pick your slack water carefully. It’s a site that rewards patient exploration rather than a quick swim-through.