wreck

Log This Dive

JUBILEE

Jubilee in Mar del Plata is an absolute wildcard, and we love it for that. Forget your pristine reef dives; this is urban diving at its grittiest and most intriguing. The wreck of the Jubilee, a former fishing vessel, sits right there, barely two metres deep, making it accessible to pretty much anyone willing to brave the chill of the South Atlantic. We’ve been here when the visibility drops to just a few feet, and that’s when it really gets interesting – the hulking silhouette appearing out of the green, draped in kelp. What makes Jubilee special isn’t the big pelagics, but the sheer tenacity of life adapting to this artificial reef. We’ve spent countless dives here, poking into every crevice, finding crabs scuttling amongst the twisted metal, small schools of silversides darting through the rusted superstructure, and even the occasional octopus tucked away. It’s a fascinating example of how an old wreck quickly becomes a home, and the way the light filters through the shallow water, illuminating the kelp forests that have grown on the deck, creates some genuinely eerie and beautiful scenes. Our favourite time to dive it? After a good storm, when the surge is still a bit active, it really brings the wreck to life with the kelp swaying wildly. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a wreck dive with character and a real sense of history, Jubilee delivers.