wreck

Log This Dive

PAGANINA

Paganina is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s only a small fishing vessel, just 9.1 metres long, but what she lacks in size she makes up for in character. Sunk during a storm in 1992, with the tragic loss of her three crew, she now lies upright in a modest 15 metres, often silhouetted against the emerald light filtering down from the surface. We love Paganina because she’s so accessible. Even newer divers can comfortably explore her, and for photographers, the shallow depth means plenty of light for playing with ambient shots. The stern is our favourite, with the single propeller still intact and often shrouded in clouds of jewel anemones. Look closely around the bow for squat lobsters peeking from crevices. You'll often find conger eels tucked into the engine room, their heads barely visible in the gloom. It’s a poignant site, a reminder of the sea’s power, but also a thriving habitat. We usually pair her with a drift dive nearby, making for a perfect half-day trip.