wreck

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MESSINA

The Messina is one of those deep wrecks that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a proper time capsule. Lying at 49 metres, she’s a steamship that went down in 1885, and for us, that history really tells when you drop onto her. You’ll find her largely intact, boilers still prominent, and the single shaft leading off to the stern. We love poking around her engine room section, imagining the crew trying to save her as she foundered. She’s a big girl at 70 metres long, so you’ll want more than one dive to properly get a feel for her. The bow section is our favourite for lingering, often draped in plumose anemones, their feathery tentacles swaying in the gentle surge. Visibility here can be surprisingly good on a calm day, sometimes pushing 15 metres, which really lets you appreciate the scale. Keep an eye out for resident conger eels, they’re often found in the darker recesses of the holds. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, no doubt, demanding good buoyancy and gas planning. It’s cold, dark, and deep, but utterly rewarding.