wreck

Log This Dive

ARNISH

Arguably our favourite dive on the Churchill Barriers, the *Arinish* is a cracker, especially if you’re into the smaller, more personal wrecks. At just 9 metres, it’s a brilliant second dive or a relaxed long soak. We love that it’s right next to the barrier, meaning shore access is straightforward – just park up and kit up. You’re looking at a 37-meter steamship, the ex-Dagmar, built in 1869 and sunk in ’23. She’s surprisingly intact for her age, with that single boiler and compound engine still very much evident, giving the wreck a real sense of its working life. What you get here is a proper shallow historical wreck dive. We’d suggest heading out at high tide for the best visibility, but even with a bit of a ripple, the details are clear. You can trace her length easily, spotting the machinery and the shape of the hull. The wreck has become a home for so much life: you’ll find plump wrasse nosing around the plates, spider crabs tucked into crevices, and sometimes a cheeky conger eel peering out from under a beam. It’s a great site for photographers who want to get up close with both the history and the resident marine life without fighting currents or depth.