wreck

Log This Dive

TIEN CHEE

The Tien Chee wreck, sitting in Mar del Plata’s often-chilly waters, isn't for everyone, but we love it for its sheer character. It’s an old freighter, sunk deliberately in the 1970s, now broken into several large sections. Dropping down, you feel the chill of the Atlantic, but the wreck quickly takes over. It’s pretty shallow, around 10 meters, so you get plenty of bottom time to poke around. Our favourite part is the engine room, surprisingly accessible if you know where to look. It’s dark inside, naturally, but your torch picks out the gauges and machinery, all encrusted with the thick, fuzzy growth that thrives here. Outside, we’ve found conger eels peering from dark corners and schools of silversides swirling through the main holds. Visibility can be a bit hit-or-miss – best after a few days of calm weather – but when it’s good, the light penetrates the broken decks, giving the wreck a moody, almost ghostly feel. It suits divers who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a scramble; definitely not a pristine coral garden, but a proper adventure.