wreck

Log This Dive

HORNCHURCH (PROBABLY)

Hornchurch (Probably) is exactly the sort of dive that keeps us coming back to the Scottish East Coast. Down at 42 metres, this isn't a beginner's wreck, but if you’re comfortable with depth and perhaps a bit of current, it’s incredibly rewarding. We love the sheer scale of the thing. You descend onto an impressive superstructure, and the bow, still largely intact, stretches out ahead, a dark silhouette against the murk. It’s an old steamship, sunk in 1917, and time has given it a beautiful, eerie quality. The hull is draped in dead man's fingers, swaying gently in the surge, and huge pollack patrol the shadows cast by the deck plates. Keep an eye out for ling lurking in the cargo holds – we’ve seen some massive ones here. The twin boilers are still prominent, and if you’re careful and well-trained, a penetration into the engine room offers a real sense of the ship’s past. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide for the best visibility, and definitely bring a good torch; there’s a lot to peer into.