wreck

Log This Dive

HOLMROOK

The Holmrook, off Holy Island, is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. We dove her on a calm day, and even then, you could feel the pull of the North Sea; it really brings home the conditions that sank her back in 1892. She was a steamship, 45 metres long, and while she broke in two, there’s still plenty of structure to explore. We love picking through the scattered plates and ribs, imagining the hull when it was whole. What makes the Holmrook special for us isn't just the history, but how the sea has reclaimed her. She’s completely colonised, a proper artificial reef. The light here, even on a bright day, has a greenish cast, filtering down onto dense carpets of anemones – plumose, mostly, swaying gently with the surge. You’ll find crabs tucked into every crevice, big velvet swimmers darting out, and the occasional ling or cod peering from beneath an overturned plate. It’s not a deep dive, making it perfect for extending bottom time, just remember to pick your weather window; Holy Island tides can be pushy. We’d suggest keeping an eye on the current around slack water for the easiest dive.