wreck

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HOPPER F

HOPPER F offers a surprising amount of atmosphere for a wreck lying in just two metres of water. We think it’s our pick for something a bit different, particularly if you fancy a change from deeper dives. This isn’t about huge fish or technicolour corals, it’s about the tangible history of a working vessel, built in 1924, then sunk in 1941 by a mine. The wreck itself is remarkably intact for its age and depth. You can make out the lines of the old barge, a distinct bow, and stern. What we really love are the details: the plates are corroded, but you can still touch the rivets, imagining the effort that went into her construction. Ling and cod often shelter in the darker sections, sometimes startling you as they dart out. The light here is fantastic on a sunny day, piercing the surface and illuminating the wreck in a way you rarely see on deeper sites. The visibility can be variable, as you'd expect in these shallows, so we'd suggest picking a calm day with minimal swell for the best experience. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration, looking for the smaller creatures making their home in the rusted metal.