wreck

Log This Dive

FREDERICK L BLAIR

The Frederick L Blair, stranded off Herring Neck, isn't your typical deep-water wreck. This wooden fishing vessel, beached after an engine room fire in 1971, sits in surprisingly shallow water. We love that it’s accessible to almost anyone, a fantastic shore dive if you’re exploring Newfoundland. What you'll find here is less about penetration and more about the skeletal remains of a working boat, slowly succumbing to the sea. The timbers are still largely intact, creating shadowy nooks and crannies that are home to sculpins and anemones. You can trace the outline of its 36-metre length, imagining the crew’s hurried escape. We’d suggest diving this one on a calm day; the visibility can drop quickly with a chop, but when it’s clear, the light filtering through the remains is striking. It’s an interesting contrast to the area's deeper, steel wrecks.