wreck

Log This Dive

YARMOUTH ROADS

Yarmouth Roads isn’t about huge pelagics or dizzying coral. This is a journey into history, plain and simple, and we absolutely love it for that. At a mere 5 metres, it’s ridiculously shallow, meaning even on a gloomy British day, light penetrates right to the seabed. You’ll be finning over what’s left of a mid-16th-century carrack, most likely a Mediterranean merchant vessel. Think about that for a second – a ship from the age of sail, trading between England and the Low Countries, now lying scattered on the sand. What you see today are the ghostly remains of carvel planking and iron fastenings, spread out like archaeological clues. It’s not a towering structure, more a low-profile scatter, but the context is immense. We’ve spent whole dives just trying to piece together the ship’s outline, imagining the cargo it once carried. Because it’s so shallow and protected, it’s a brilliant site for newer divers looking for something beyond a rocky reef, or for anyone who appreciates the sheer history of a place. Look closely amongst the timbers; small crabs scuttle, and we’ve spotted blennies peeking from crevices. Our top tip? Go on a calm day with good sun, then take your time. Let your imagination do the heavy lifting.