wreck

Log This Dive

NORFALK

The Norfalk is one of those wrecks that just has a story to tell, and it’s a good one. Sunk in 1944 as a blockship for the Normandy landings, this steamship never quite made it to its intended resting place, instead hitting a mine off the Cornish coast. What we love about her is the sheer scale – 124 metres long, she’s a proper behemoth resting upright in about 17 metres of water. Dropping down, the bow is often the first thing you see, looming out of the green, and you immediately feel the history of the place. We’d suggest finning along the deck, picking out the winches and cargo holds now colonised by dead man’s fingers and anemones. The Norfalk is a fantastic site for newer wreck divers who want to get a sense of a large vessel without deep penetration or strong currents. Look closely in the nooks and crannies; crabs are always scuttling about, and conger eels are often tucked into the darker spaces. Visibility can be a typical Cornish stew, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight, the sheer size of her is impressive, a real concrete ghost ship.