The Thistlegorm, best wreck of the world ?

[Jai Bar]

There are probably many "best wreck dive in the world", and the Thistlegorm is one of them.

Maybe there are better technical penetration wrecks, but as a mainstream dive site it is superb. Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

 

[LI-er]

[Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

[

Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

I dived this wreck last month, from stern to bow. I don't recall any levels that were deeper than those with the motor bikes and other vehicles.

 

[Jason Brunson]

There are probably many "best wreck dive in the world", and the Thistlegorm is one of them.

Maybe there are better technical penetration wrecks, but as a mainstream dive site it is superb. Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

One day I will make it to the thistlegorm… one day

 

[Jai Bar]

[Even OW divers can do the upper holds of the Thistlegorm and enjoy motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and so on.

[

I dived this wreck last month, from stern to bow. I don't recall any levels that were deeper than those with the motor bikes and other vehicles.

The Thistlegorm has four holds. The ones in front (1 & 2) contain the BSA motorcycles and trucks on the upper hold, Enfield rifles, boots, tires, airplane parts on the lower hold.

I think the hold near the stern was hit and obliterated, contents spread all over.

 

[LI-er]

Thistlegnorm wreck diagram. Seems like it would be an easy wreck to navigate but throw up to 100 divers on the wreck at one time, with a half a dozen dive boats tied in at various places with visibility poor and it can be tricky finding your way back to the correct line. Especially in the blown up area just forward of the stern.

 

[Parlem]

Thistlegnorm wreck diagram. Seems like it would be an easy wreck to navigate but throw up to 100 divers on the wreck at one time, with a half a dozen dive boats tied in at various places with visibility poor and it can be tricky finding your way back to the correct line. Especially in the blown up area just forward of the stern.

I've been lucky to dive the Thistlegorm several times. To me the main issues are strong current and poor viz, especially when combined. Orientation is not usually an issue, as the boat lies mostly upright and dive boats moor at the shallow end. If you need to find the mooring line, just swim up towards the shallow end of the wreck and you'll find it.
Of course, others may disagree.

 

[LI-er]

Orientation is not usually an issue, as the boat lies mostly upright and dive boats moor at the shallow end. If you need to find the mooring line, just swim up towards the shallow end of the wreck and you'll find it.
Of course, others may disagree.

Navigating the wreck itself as a whole isn't difficult at all. It's finding your line. With over a half a dozen liveaboards moored to the wreck, each with at least two lines, it's like spaghetti down there, made worse by lots of silt created by divers as they begin and end their dives. When we dived the wreck most of the boats were tied in near the blown up area which doesn't provide a great reference. Some boats put a flag on their lines so you know which line is yours, but most don't. I remember looking at several lines and doing the 'eeny meenie miny moe" thing, we ascended and found ourselves at a nearby dive boat.

 

[Rock Hopper]

I think the hold near the stern was hit and obliterated, contents spread all over.

Possibly not. Because of their nature, the contents were probably removed in the years before the wreck was "officially" discovered.

 

[passeparici]

Navigating the wreck itself as a whole isn't difficult at all. It's finding your line. With over a half a dozen liveaboards moored to the wreck, each with at least two lines, it's like spaghetti down there, made worse by lots of silt created by divers as they begin and end their dives. When we dived the wreck most of the boats were tied in near the blown up area which doesn't provide a great reference. Some boats put a flag on their lines so you know which line is yours, but most don't. I remember looking at several lines and doing the 'eeny meenie miny moe" thing, we ascended and found ourselves at a nearby dive boat.

Pay some attention when you go down to where is your line tied. That helps a lot. Unfortunatly, very often, we forget to do that as we concentrate at seeing the wreck for the first time

 

[LI-er]

Pay some attention when you go down to where is your line tied. That helps a lot. Unfortunatly, very often, we forget to do that as we concentrate at seeing the wreck for the first time

You know, I did exactly that. I took a really good look at the spot, observed the location, position and orientation of the line and committed it to memory. And when I got back to it I couldn't remember a freaking thing.