wreck

Log This Dive

POLDOWN

The Poldown, sunk in 1917, lies upright and mostly intact on a seabed of 30 metres. This isn't one of those wrecks where you’re just looking at scattered debris; she’s still very much a ship, and that’s what we love about her. The stern is our favourite, with the huge propeller standing proud, a real draw for photo opportunities. You’ll often find conger eels tucked into every dark corner and huge pollack swimming in lazy circles around the mast, which still reaches up towards the surface. Exploring the Poldown feels like stepping back in time, the triple expansion engine is exposed and really quite something to behold. We’d suggest saving your torch batteries for peering into the holds, where the light can be quite dim even on a bright day. The wreck is slowly collapsing, so penetrations aren’t really an option, but there's plenty to see from the outside. Visibility can be hit or miss in Cornwall, but when it’s good, the Poldown offers a fantastic dive for experienced wreck divers who appreciate a bit of maritime history and some surprisingly robust marine life.