wreck

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WESTVILLE

Westville is one of those deep wrecks that truly delivers if you’re a fan of big metal. Lying at 39 metres, she’s a serious dive, but the rewards are there. We love her imposing structure, a 102-metre steamship that went down on New Year's Eve, 1917. You can still make out the twin boilers and the triple-expansion engine, looming out of the gloom. Visibility here can swing wildly, but on a good day, when the light penetrates, the sheer scale of the ship is just incredible. Our favourite part has to be exploring the forward holds; they offer some fantastic swim-throughs, but they’re for experienced wreck divers only – no messing about. The decking is mostly gone, leaving you with these skeletal ribs draped in dead man's fingers and colourful jewel anemones. Keep an eye out for conger eels tucked into every crevice, and the odd inquisitive pollock darting through the superstructure. It’s a proper historical dive, feeling every bit its age, and a fantastic challenge for those comfortable with deeper, darker conditions.