Marlborough Sounds Mikhail Lermontov

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Dive Site Review by Anna Clague
Photos by Pete Mesley – Lust for Rust and Andrew Simpson

This is an amazing wreck dive in our own back yard. This wreck is shrouded in mystery and has a fantastic topside story that is worth looking into before you get to diving on her. The wreck is located in Port Gore at the top of the South Island and is only accessible by boat. The ship is lying completely on her starboard side so is incredibly disorientating for those with the training and experience to penetrate. The bay where she lies has a silt bottom and is not known for its great visibility. This adds to the moodiness of the wreck. The port side is resting at about 14 meters and the seafloor is at about 36m. Divers have penetrated the wreck and gone deeper as the weight of the ship has seen her sink into the silt.

A ship of this size has many dives to it and it is always best to start with orientating yourself to the outside so that at any time you will know where you are on the ship in relation to a safe ascent point. Along the port side you have rows of round port holes from the accommodation decks followed by bigger square windows from the entertainment and public decks. It was the bow section on the port side that struck rocks causing her a fatal tear. You can see this gash which looks like a giant old fashioned can opener has had a go at her.

The stern obviously has the props and the Lermontov’s are impressive. The stern railings are enticing entryways into various deck levels where you can find remnants of the gyms equipment like rowing machines. On what were the top decks you can find the Pool Atrium, davits for the lifeboats, The engine room skylights and the Foremast tower with the radar equipment and a lookout. Heading along towards the bow you come across the bridge with its row of windows stepping down to the Bolshoi lounge windows and then the foredeck with the front cargo hatch.

There are many memorable penetration dives on this wreck and this can be started with the spaces that have plenty of external light sources and exits including the Wintergarden with it’s views through internal doorways into the cinema with rows of cinema seating. The Bolshoi Lounge with the chandelier over the dance floor and the spiral staircase to the mezzanine level. The swimming pool with the tiles still intact and the Neptune bar stools at the end. Just remember that everything on this ship is sideways so the walls are above and below you and the floor and ceilings are to your left and right. Divers should be very cautious when making any entries as it is not only disorientating but very easily silted out due to its age and location.

Global Dive choose to dive this wreck with Lust For Rust where you will often find us diving with Pete Mesley. For more information on trips to the Mikhail Lermontov contact us.

REVIEW

Dive Site review by Tom Crisp

The Mikhail Lermontov is easily the best wreck dive I have done to date. Based in Port Gore in the Marlborough Sounds, the 176m cruise liner lies in 36m of water with the shallowest point at just 12m. The hull of the ship is fully intact except for the tear in the port side which caused the sinking. Artifacts can be found strewn throughout the wreck on every deck. Some levels are extremely open with a large amount of ambient light meaning they are perfect for all, while others provide minimal ambient light and much more restricted access to the surface for the adventurers. The shallow nature of the site means a lot of time can be spent on or inside the wreck without even getting close to decompression.

Even though this is considered one dive site, hundreds of different dives can be completed here. My personal favourite is the “mini gauntlet” The mini gauntlet starts at the stern of the ship where you enter the pool until you reach theNeptune bar. After a good snoop around the bar you drop towards the sea floor into a passage which continues toward the bow. In this passage the ships clock is still visible, and a room above holds creepy looking dolls. Continuing forward you then ascend into the first of three lobbies. As you look up in this lobby ambient light comes back into site above a spiral staircase. By continuing forward you swim over the Sadko bar which is well worth spending a little time in as bottles of spirits and cans of pilsner can still be found in here. While in the Sadko bar great care is needed as silt begins to rain, dramatically reducing visibility (this is the same for all lower areas of the ship).

After carefully moving on from the Sadko you swim over a collapsed area which once was the duty free and into the second lobby. Lobby number 2 is similar to the first and also the third. A little further toward the bow the passage narrows due to debris, this passage is between the Nevsky and Astoria bars which once again are good to spend time looking around as all the bars are different. Just behind the bars are the storage rooms, these are still filled with interesting artifacts that make great photos (not souvenirs). Just past the store room you enter the third lobby. By passing through this lobby you then enter the grand finale, the Bolshoi Lounge. The Bolshoi is a large ballroom with a dance floor in the middle. Light from outside the wreck gives this a real atmosphere. Tables still stand in place while chandeliers hang from the ceiling. On the level above is a viewing balcony with yet another bar behind it. The mini Gauntlet is not a dive to be made without piecing up individual areas before. Personally I would like to re name this dive the pub crawl as you get the chance to see five bars in one dive, each with their own personality as it were.

The Lermontov is a must! This site is world class and it is right in our backyard. If you are not a wreck head (much like me) the Lermontov will more than likely convert you to the dark side. Previously caves were much higher on my priority list but now wrecks are on a par – that is how good this wreck is.