wreck

Log This Dive

CHADWICK

The Chadwick, resting in Oisgill Bay, isn't about deep exploration. This is a five-metre dive, pure and simple, but don't let the shallowness fool you. We love it for those days when the weather's a bit frisky but you still want to get wet. The stern of this 76-metre steamship, which ran aground in thick fog back in 1892, lies broken but still recognisable. You can trace the deck plating and see where the superstructure once stood proud. Our favourite part is the way the light filters through the kelp, illuminating patches of the wreck. It's an atmospheric dive, with green light dappling across the barnacle-encrusted metal. We’ve found plumose anemones clinging to every surface, and the occasional inquisitive wrasse will dart out from under a twisted plate. It’s not a site for spotting big pelagics, but for macro life and just soaking in the history, it’s spot on. Best dived at slack water, it’s a tranquil spot, perfect for an extended rummage around for anyone who appreciates a well-aged wreck without the nitrogen narcosis.