As we descend a few meters below the surface, a mammoth form takes shape beneath us. It is an immense cargo ship, lying starboard side, on its final resting place upon a flat sandy surface. As we sink beneath the port side boundary at 20 meters, the panorama is overwhelming. For this is one of the best days, given the 20m-25m visibility, to dive an intact shipwreck and absorb its profile in its entirety.

Just above us, large shoals of fish form twisting and churning bait balls in its eternal ballet to escape darting predators. As we cover the final 10 meters on the deck side we observe the mass of twisted and mutilated debris. At 32 meters lying alongside the ship are two life boats. Two large mast like booms protrude from the deck and rise up towards the surface. The ship is full of fish life. Fusiliers, Snappers, Groupers, Lionfish and insidious among the debris are also Scorpionfish. We also spot a large Stingray partially buried in the white sand. Later we will come to know this as Elvis, the king of the wreck. Twice, we have encountered "Charles" - the seemingly resident Eagle Ray who can also be seen resting on the white sand. Surrounding the ship are also a small school of very friendly Batfish who like to play with divers and have fun with their bubbles.

The ship is large and it is resting deep. That means most of the dives here are restricted to 40 minutes at best. But that time is just enough to explore the entire outer length on the deck and the hull. Sometimes the currents are fierce; especially as you ascend over the shadow of the deck.

This dive always imposes a sense of wonder. Perhaps because the ship is completely intact and so closer to life than dereliction & death; and we feel a strange kinship in encountering something so familiar in the unfamiliar depths of the mysterious ocean.

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