wreck

Log This Dive

NOVICE

Okay, the Novice. We've spent a fair bit of time down on this one, and it's a solid dive, especially if you’re into your British wreck history. This isn't some pristine, intact vessel; she's broken, quite a lot of her collapsed, but that's part of her charm. The Novice was a harbour tug, heading from Brixham up towards the Isle of Man when she hit something submerged and went down in '73, just a mile and a half south of Start Point. Descending, you hit the bow first, often through a green, silty haze that then clears as you get closer to the deck. That’s when the features really start to show themselves. We love picking out the machinery, bits of engine, and the twisted metal plates that give a sense of her former working life. It's a deep dive, sitting at 51 metres, so definitely one for experienced divers with the right gas planning. The depth means the light is usually quite muted, adding to the atmosphere. Look for conger eels tucked into the darker recesses, and the usual suspects of bib and wrasse flitting around the exposed frames. It's a proper British wreck dive, a bit gnarly, a bit dark, but always rewarding for its history and the life that now calls it home.