wreck

Log This Dive

HEART OF OAK

The Heart of Oak is one of those wrecks that just hits right, especially if you’re into a bit of history with your dive. She went down in 1863, caught out on Taylors Bank, and what’s left of her timber hull is scattered across the seabed at 21 metres. It’s not a towering structure, more a deconstructed puzzle of beams and planks, but that’s precisely what we love about it. We’ve spent many dives tracing the outline, imagining the sailing vessel she once was. Visibility here can swing, but on a good day, the light filtering down shows off the incredible colours of the anemones and dead man’s fingers that have completely engulfed the wood. You’ll spot crabs scuttling between the timbers and often catch a glimpse of a wolf fish tucked into a crevice. Our favourite approach is to take it slow, really pick through the details, because every visit seems to reveal a new piece of her story. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the quiet intimacy of a well-aged wreck, rather than a dramatic silhouette.