wreck

Log This Dive

MERDIS

We love the Merdis. This wreck, a casualty of a German U-boat in 1917, now rests upright on the seabed at 35m. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer scale. It's a big ship, still largely intact, and you can swim through the holds, imagining the cargo she once carried. The light filters down, illuminating clouds of juvenile pollock that swirl through the superstructure. Look closer, and you’ll find conger eels peering from every dark recess, their heads like knobbly fists, and the occasional dogfish tucked into the sand nearby. Our favourite moment is always finning past the stern, where the prop shaft and rudder are still clearly visible, encrusted in dead man's fingers. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration, allowing you to really soak in the history and the way the ocean has reclaimed it. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is off the Cornish coast, but when it’s good, the Merdis is simply fantastic. Definitely one for experienced divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and the occasional current.