wreck

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Champlain II

The Champlain II wreck in New England isn't about tropical fish or gin-clear visibility. This is old-school wreck diving, a proper historical piece resting deep in the murky green. We love it for the sheer sense of history, the way the cold water preserves the vessel, holding it in a kind of suspended animation. Dropping down, you hit the bow first, then the superstructure emerges from the gloom, often with a powerful surge from the surface pushing you into her. You’re exploring a side-wheel passenger steamer from the 1800s, a relic of a bygone era. We always try to spend time around the paddlewheel, it’s our favourite part, feeling the sheer scale of those timbers. The main deck is still remarkably intact in places, and we’ve found sea lampreys here, surprising in their size, along with schools of Rainbow Smelt darting through the shadowed corridors created by the collapsed sections. This isn't a site for beginners; strong currents are common, and the depth means careful gas planning. It’s for divers who appreciate a challenging dive and the quiet thrill of touching history, not for those chasing brightly coloured corals.