wreck

Log This Dive

DONA LOURDES

We love the Dona Lourdes for its sheer presence. Dropping onto the bridge, often with a slight current nudging you along, the ship spreads out below. It’s a carrier vessel, 70 metres of history lying on its port side at 40 metres. Built in Nagasaki, sunk in '83, you can feel the story as you move along the deck. The superstructure is still largely intact, allowing for some decent penetration if you’re comfortable with overhead environments and good on your air. The cargo holds are particularly interesting, now home to schools of snapper and fusiliers that swirl around you, thick enough to dim the ambient light. Keep an eye out for resident groupers peering from shadowy corners. We’d suggest a nitrox blend if you want to make the most of the bottom time, as 40 metres comes fast. It’s a proper deep wreck dive, best suited for advanced divers with some experience in current. Our favourite detail? The sheer number of lionfish perched on every railing and intact surface, their spines fanning out like underwater fireworks. It’s a dive that sticks with you.