wreck

Log This Dive

MADAME ALICE

Diving the *Madame Alice* feels like stepping back into a cold, churning slice of history. She's a steamship, sunk in 1918, and though the details of her demise are a bit murky, her presence on the seabed isn't. Lying at 35m, she’s largely intact, listing to port with her bows pointed north. We love dropping down the shotline onto her stern, where the prop shaft stretches out, often adorned with plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying in the low light. Her engine room is our favourite part to explore, a tight squeeze but worth it to peer at the huge, single boiler and the compound expansion engine. You can practically feel the rumble of it. The deck plating has collapsed in places, creating interesting swim-throughs, though a good torch is essential – it’s dark down there, even on a bright day. Shoals of saithe often hang above the wreck, flickering silver, and we’ve spotted conger eels tucked into the deeper recesses. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the atmosphere of a truly old vessel and don’t mind a bit of a chill. We always suggest hitting it on a slack tide for the best visibility and a more relaxed penetration.