wreck

Log This Dive

WAIKAWA (POSSIBLY)

The Waikawa, or what we believe is the Waikawa, presents a compelling deep dive off the Cornish coast. At 53 metres, this isn't one for the casual diver. She’s a big steamship, 128 metres long, a genuine behemoth lying on her side, and the sheer scale is what truly grabs you. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the silence, broken only by your own bubbles, then the gloom starts to resolve into the massive plates of her hull. We love tracing the length of her, imagining the noise and chaos when she went down in 1917. Penetrating the cargo holds is a real highlight here, though you need the right training and plenty of gas. The three boilers are largely intact, a powerful reminder of her propulsion, and the quadruple expansion engine is an impressive sight, colonised by thick growths of plumose anemones and dead man’s fingers. Visibility can vary wildly with the tides, but on a good day, the light filtering down into the holds creates an ethereal glow. The current can be strong, so planning your slack water window is crucial; otherwise, you’ll be working hard just to stay put. This wreck is for experienced technical divers who appreciate deep history and don’t mind a bit of a challenge.