wreck

Log This Dive

ORMINSTER

The *Orminster* is a proper dive, a deep expedition for those who know their way around a twinset. She’s a big steamship, 117 metres long, built in 1914 and sunk by a U-boat in 1944. Dropping down, you’ll start to pick out her vast silhouette at around 30 metres, the deck a jumble of collapsed plates and machinery. We find the bow section particularly striking; it’s still fairly intact, an imposing steel wall covered in dead men's fingers and anemones. Penetration is possible in some areas, but we'd only recommend it for divers with specific wreck training and proper gas management. The engine room is a highlight if you can get inside, a dark cavern where conger eels lurk in every void. On the exterior, schools of pollack often swirl around the superstructure, and we’ve seen some decent lobsters tucked into crevices. This site really suits experienced technical divers who appreciate historical wrecks and the challenge of a deeper dive; it’s not for the faint-hearted or those new to overhead environments. Expect chilly water, even in summer, so drysuits are a must. We find the slack water around high tide offers the calmest conditions for descent and ascent.