wreck

Log This Dive

PETERSHAM

The Petersham is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. Dropping down onto her, you get a real sense of her scale, even at 39 metres. She’s a big old steamship, sunk back in 1918, and what’s left is a tangled but coherent mess of steel that’s been thoroughly claimed by the sea. We love exploring her two huge boilers – they’re a fantastic focal point, often absolutely buzzing with conger eels peering out from every crevice. You’ll find walls of plumose anemones, especially on the more sheltered sections, and the swim-throughs, where parts of the superstructure have collapsed, are just wide enough to feel adventurous without being too tight. Our favourite is moving along the deck plates, imagining the scale of her in her working life, and seeing schools of pollock dart between the ribs. Visibility here can be variable, but on a good day, when the sun penetrates a little, the colours are surprisingly rich. It’s definitely one for experienced wreck divers comfortable with depth and the occasional surge. We’d suggest going in late summer or early autumn for the best chance of decent conditions.