This wreck listing shows the wrecks that I have dived to date. It is only meant as a general guide and various sources of reference have been used in compiling it. I would however urge you to do further research of your own to supplement the information given here.
There are still gaps in the information that I have. If you can fill any of these with the typical information that is given in the table or the text please email me and I can gradually fill up the blanks.
The co-ordinates below are given in Degrees, Minutes and decimals. Therefore one minute of latitude would equal approximately 1854 metres, and on the South coast of the UK one minute of longitude would equal approx 1195 metres.
|
Co-ordinates |
Typical
Depth |
Sunk |
Area |
No. times dived | |
| Adamantios J Pithos | 51 40.47N; 05 10.16W |
13 |
1940 | Milford | 1 |
| Aeneas | 50 19.45N; 02 13.65W |
55 |
1940 | Weymouth | 1 |
|
50 30.57N; 02 08.43W |
31 |
1979 |
Weymouth |
3 | |
| Afric | 50 01.10N; 04.33 00W |
77 |
1917 | Plymouth | 5 |
|
55 56.75N; 04 54.42W |
31 |
1956 |
Clyde |
5 | |
| Alaunia | 50 41.05N; 00 27.28E |
35 |
1916 | Eastbourne | 1 |
| Alexander Kennedy | 50 07.82N; 04 46.52W |
68 |
1945 | Falmouth | 1 |
| Alex van Opstal | 50 32.48N; 02 16.03W |
30 |
1939 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Alice Marie | 50 06.18N; 05 29.33W |
25 |
1909 | Penzance | 1 |
| Amazon |
60 |
1866 | Exmouth | 1 | |
| Aparima | 50 29.40N; 01 55.00W |
41 |
1917 | Poole | 1 |
| Ariadne | 50 42.89N; 00 23.37E |
22 |
1917 | Eastbourne | 1 |
| Auguste Conseil | 50 05.60N; 04 06.08W |
70 |
1915 | Plymouth | 1 |
| Australbush | 50 12.20N; 04 05.25W |
60 |
1917 | Plymouth | 2 |
| Avalanche | 50 26.56N; 02 50.65W |
50 |
1877 | Exmouth | 2 |
|
51
56.26N; 05 12.06W |
12 |
1898 |
Porthgain |
2 | |
| Barshaw | 50 08.63N; 04 10.34W |
66 |
1942 | Plymouth | 4 |
| Baygitano | 50 41.76N; 02 55.97W |
20 |
1918 | West Bay | 1 |
|
57 47.32N; 04 56.65W |
32 |
1865 |
Clyde |
3 | |
|
52 42.41N; 05 06.98W |
15 |
1940 |
Milford Haven |
2 | |
| Bell Virtu | 50 03 51N; 04 05 70W |
71 |
2003 | Plymouth | 2 |
|
50 37.00N; 01 48.86W |
25 |
1926 |
Poole |
1 | |
|
50 32.12N; 02 20.44W |
29 |
1939 |
Weymouth |
1 | |
| Birgitte | 50 08.66N; 04 11.85W |
67 |
1942 | Plymouth | 8 |
|
50 36.68N; 02 12.43W |
18 |
1944 |
Weymouth |
2 | |
| Boadicea | 50 24.70N; 02 45.90W |
51 |
1944 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Boma | 50 32.15N; 03 14.23W |
31 |
1918 | Exmouth | 3 |
| Bombardon Unit | 50 34.33N; 02 24.91W |
14 |
Portland | 3 | |
|
50 35.41N; 01 41.66W |
32 |
1918 |
Poole |
1 | |
| Borgund 1 | 50 26.07N; 03 03.26W |
51 |
1917 | Exmouth | 1 |
|
50 29.45N; 03 22.62W |
26 |
1918 |
Torquay |
12 | |
| Britannia | 55 37.65N; 01 36.10W |
25 |
1915 | Farnes | 1 |
| British Inventor | 50 35.40N; 02 18.37W |
21 |
1940 | Weymouth | 3 |
| Brummer | 58 53.83N; 03 09.12W |
34 |
1919 | Scapa | 3 |
|
52
01.07N; 05 05.58W |
37 |
1915 |
Porthgain |
1 | |
|
50 31.95N; 01 02.80W |
28 |
1917 |
Poole |
1 | |
| Camswan | 50 38.70N; 01 05.38W |
19 |
1917 | Portsmouth | 1 |
| Carolus | 50 12.05N; 04 43.42W |
60 |
1918 | Falmouth | 3 |
| Caroni River | 50 06.93N; 05 01.85W |
25 |
1940 | Falmouth | 1 |
| City of Antwerp | 50 00.44N; 04 08.32W |
74 |
1882 | Plymouth | 2 |
| Conqueror | 50 04.35N; 05 32.25W |
18 |
1977 | Penzance | 1 |
| Chateau Yquem | 50 29.08N; 02 58.88W |
46 |
1917 | Exmouth | 2 |
| Cheapside | 50 07.44N; 03 56.64W |
66 |
1910 | Plymouth | 4 |
| Chris Christensen | 55 38.38N; 01 36.27W |
32 |
1915 | Farnes | 2 |
|
50 40.50N; 00 06.68W |
33 |
1949 |
Brighton |
1 | |
|
50 35.18N; 02 25.18W |
14 |
1935 |
Portland |
4 | |
|
51 39.12N; 05 08.19W |
18 |
1940 |
Milford Haven |
4 | |
| Dartmeet | 50 03.53N; 04 07.64W |
74 |
1916 | Plymouth | 2 |
|
50 35.03N; 02 25.45W |
14 |
|
Portland |
1 | |
| Duke of Buccleuch | 50 29 83N; 00 26 05W |
54 |
1889 | Brighton | 1 |
| Dwyer | 50 21.09N; 03 06.09W |
53 |
1917 | Exmouth | 1 |
| Eastpoint | 50 07.63N; 04 00.34W |
67 |
1917 | Plymouth | 5 |
| Edam |
74 |
1895 | Plymouth | 4 | |
| Elena R | 50 30.19N; 02 20.66W |
30 |
1939 | Weymouth | 1 |
|
50 30.11N; 01 40.35W |
38 |
1918 |
Poole |
1 | |
| Elk | 50 18.40N; 04 10.20W |
31 |
1940 | Plymouth | 7 |
|
50 19.92N; 03 29.90W |
42 |
1918 |
Torquay |
1 | |
| Empress of India | 50 29.72N; 02 57.88W |
46 |
1913 | Exmouth | 5 |
|
50 34.86N; 02 24.85W |
16 |
1900 |
Portland |
5 | |
|
50 07.66N; 05 01.43W |
25 |
1917 |
Falmouth |
2 | |
| Eskdale | 50 03.19N; 04 54.78W |
68 |
1943 | Falmouth | 1 |
| Ethel | 50 28.37N; 02 20.87W |
37 |
1918 | Weymouth | 1 |
|
55 57.08N; 04 52.10W |
37 |
1884 |
Clyde |
1 | |
| Everleigh | 50 29.30N; 01 47.10W |
42 |
1945 | Poole | 1 |
| F2 | 58 50.77N; 03 11.50W |
17 |
1946 | Scapa | 1 |
|
50 41.60N; 00 02.30W |
31 |
1916 |
Brighton |
2 | |
| Franzisca | 58 28.30N; 02 27.40W |
55 |
1889 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Galicia | 50 33.27N; 03 26.43W |
17 |
1917 | Teignmouth | 8 |
| Gascony | 50 39.46N; 00 39.66W |
26 |
1918 | Littlehampton | 1 |
| Gefion | 50 30.07N; 03 15.20W |
33 |
1917 | Exmouth | 1 |
|
50 32.79N; 02 27.10 |
18 |
1894 |
Weymouth |
2 | |
|
50 18.93N; 04 07.62W |
18 |
1970 |
Plymouth |
3 | |
| Glocliffe | 50 27.08N; 03 17.28W |
42 |
1917 | Exmouth | 2 |
|
55 55.94N; 04 53.63W |
29 |
1902 |
Clyde |
3 | |
| Greleen | 50 27.63N; 03 13.45W |
42 |
1917 | Teignmouth | 2 |
| Gripfast | 50 25.97N; 02 28.95W |
50 |
1942 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Harstadt | 50 24.18N; 03 01.24W |
53 |
1943 | Exmouth | 1 |
| Havbris | 50 09.50N; 03 44.81W |
62 |
1917 | Plymouth | 1 |
|
50 01.49N; 05 19.64W |
35 |
1915 |
Penzance |
1 | |
|
50
04.32N; 05 29.80W |
36 |
1911 |
Penzance |
2 | |
|
50 12.08N; 04 53.92W |
16 |
1914 |
Falmouth |
2 | |
|
50 34.08N; 02 25.12W |
16 |
1914 |
Portland |
4 | |
| Iolanthe | 50 27.64N; 02 07.96W |
44 |
1918 | Poole | 1 |
| James Barrie | 58 48.76N; 03 02.30W |
42 |
1969 | Scapa | 1 |
|
50 19.61N; 04 14.72W |
19 |
1945 |
Plymouth |
7 | |
| James Fennel | 50 32.75N; 02 27.30W |
17 |
1920 | Weymouth | 1 |
| J R Park | 50 00.06N; 05 24.58W |
56 |
1945 | Penzance | 3 |
| Karlsruhe | 58 53.38N; 03 11.30W |
26 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
| Kilmaho | 49 57.75N; 05 22.13W |
63 |
1917 | Penzance | 4 |
|
55 53.18N; 04 54.00W |
41 |
1907 |
Clyde |
3 | |
| Koln | 58 53.53N; 03 08.45W |
35 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
| Konig | 58 52.23N; 03 09.12W |
38 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
| Kronprinz Wilhelm | 58 53.65N; 03 09.80W |
36 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
|
50 34.90N; 01 56.59W |
29 |
1918 |
Poole |
1 | |
| Lab | 50 08.19N; 04 09.20W |
67 |
1942 | Plymouth | 1 |
|
50 34.37N; 02 24.90W |
18 |
|
Portland |
5 | |
|
51 38.20N; 05 04.25W |
16 |
1943 |
Milford Haven |
2 | |
| Landrail | 50 33.74N; 02 37.51W |
34 |
1906 | Weymouth | 2 |
|
51
37.36N; 05 07.52W |
12 |
1917 |
Abercastle |
2 | |
| Lord Hailsham | 50 23.23N; 03 02.76W |
54 |
1943 | Exmouth | 1 |
| Lord Stewart | 50 29.58N; 03 16.92W |
37 |
1918 | Teignmouth | 2 |
| Lord Stonehaven | 50 11.15N; 04 08.35W |
62 |
1942 | Plymouth | 4 |
|
51 44.45N; 05 16.55W |
42 |
1967 |
Milford Haven |
5 | |
|
50
36.45N; 01 09.92W |
17 |
1918 |
Portsmouth |
2 | |
| M1 | 49 59.19N; 03 56.82W |
75 |
1925 | Plymouth | 1 |
|
50 34.60N; 02 33.93W |
34 |
1932 |
Weymouth |
4 | |
|
50 12.82N; 03 51.05W |
34 |
1917 |
Plymouth |
5 | |
| Margraf | 58 53.52N; 03 09.92W |
42 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
| Medoc | 50 15.10N; 04 14.02W |
54 |
1940 | Plymouth | 3 |
| Medina | 50 12.42N; 03 32.18W |
65 |
1917 | Exmouth | 3 |
| Merchant Royal | 50 20.05N; 02 29.68W |
55 |
1946 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Minister Beernaert |
83 |
Newquay | 1 | ||
| Modavia | 50 24.38N; 03 01.82W |
51 |
1943 | Exmouth | 2 |
|
50 02.72N; 05 02.60W |
30 |
1898 |
Falmouth |
3 | |
|
|
40 |
|
Clyde |
2 | |
| Murree | 49 57 85N; 03 14 25W |
70 |
1989 | Salcombe | 1 |
| Northcoates | 50 39.68N; 00 35.33W |
28 |
1942 | Littlehampton | 1 |
| Oceana | 50 42.32N; 00 25.75E |
27 |
1912 | Eastbourne | 1 |
| Orcis | 50 16.75N; 0434.63W |
44 |
1935 | Plymouth | 1 |
| Oregon | 50 14.68N; 03 56.37W |
34 |
1890 | Plymouth | 1 |
| Perrone | 50 28.23N; 03 22.78W |
32 |
1917 | Teignmouth | 2 |
|
50 17.11N; 03 58.14W |
31 |
1945 |
Plymouth |
9 | |
|
50 07.01N; 05 03.00W |
21 |
1918 |
Falmouth |
2 | |
| Pomella | 50 19.88N; 03 01.02W |
57 |
1942 | Exmouth | 5 |
| Pomeranian | 50 33.57N; 02 41.33W |
37 |
1918 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Poulmic | 50 19.00N; 04 09.63W |
18 |
1940 | Plymouth | 1 |
| Rame Barge | 50 18.33N; 04 14.70W |
35 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Reggestroom | 50 21.45N; 02 57.60W |
58 |
1942 | Exmouth | 3 |
| Rosehill | 50 19.66N; 04 18.60W |
30 |
1917 | Plymouth | 2 |
| Rose Valley | 58 49.55N; 03 29.44W |
19 |
1943 | Scapa | 1 |
| Rotorua | 50 18.47N; 02 59.73W |
57 |
1917 | Exmouth | 4 |
| Salsette | 50 29.66N; 02 43.07W |
46 |
1917 | Weymouth | 3 |
| Scylla | 50 19.61N; 04 15.22W |
25 |
2004 | Plymouth | 4 |
| Sevilla | 50 24.03N; 03 22.85W |
41 |
1918 | Teignmouth | 1 |
|
50 32.96N; 02 38.43W |
35 |
1957 |
Weymouth |
1 | |
| Silver Laurel | 50 07.75N; 04 39.08W |
69 |
1944 | Plymouth | 2 |
| Slaatero | 50 01.81N; 05 36.14W |
60 |
1917 | Penzance | 1 |
| Smyrna | 50 18.97N; 01 29.45W |
55 |
1888 | Weymouth | 1 |
| Somali | 55 34.09N; 01 36.12W |
30 |
1941 | Farnes | 2 |
| Strathgarry |
57 |
1915 | Scapa | 1 | |
| Stockforce |
73 |
1918 | Plymouth | 1 | |
| Sword Dance | 57 55.00N; 03 33.00W |
82 |
1942 | Wick | 1 |
| Ternefjell | 50 06.45N; 03 51.27W |
73 |
1953 | Plymouth | 1 |
|
51 41.69N; 05 08.79W |
24 |
1943 |
Milford Haven |
1 | |
| Trentonian | 50 06.70N; 04 44.53W |
70 |
1945 | Falmouth | 1 |
| U90 |
32 |
1918 | Selsey | 1 | |
| UB74 | 50 31.82N; 02 33.34W |
37 |
1918 | Weymouth | 1 |
|
50 29.37N; 00 58.20W |
30 |
1917 |
Portsmouth |
1 | |
| Ullswater |
66 |
1942 | Plymouth | 1 | |
| Underwood | 49 59.89N; 05 31.63W |
55 |
1944 | Penzance | 1 |
| Unicorn | 50 16.00N; 04 15.60W |
52 |
1923 | Plymouth | 1 |
| Ursa | 50 28.15N; 03.00.58W |
48 |
1918 | Exmouth | 3 |
| V83 | 58 51.94N; 03 11.88W |
17 |
1919 | Scapa | 1 |
|
52 00.48N; 05 05.35W |
31 |
1888 |
Porthgain |
1 | |
| Victoria | 50 07.50N; 04 35.40W |
71 |
1917 | Plymouth | 5 |
|
50 04.42N; 05 03.43W |
21 |
1917 |
Falmouth |
3 | |
| Waitara | 50 14.42N; 01 54.25W |
58 |
1883 | Weymouth | 1 |
|
55 51.71N; 04 57.19W |
30 |
1895 |
Clyde |
3 | |
| Warrior 2 | 50 21.56N; 02 12.23W |
55 |
1940 | Weymouth | 2 |
| Westergate | 50 18.18N; 03 07.27W |
56 |
1918 | Exmouth | 1 |
| Unknown Coaster | 50 34.93N; 02 24.84W |
15 |
Portland | 3 | |
| Unknown (Pierman's) |
65 |
Newquay | 1 | ||
| Unknown (17791) | 50 45.70N; 04 59.52W |
61 |
Newquay | 1 | |
| Unknown (22881) | 49 59.29N; 04 28.73W |
78 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (18488) | 50 15.53N; 02 50.22W |
61 |
West Bay | 1 | |
| Unknown (1-17476) | 50 05.42N; 04 19.02W |
74 |
Plymouth | 2 | |
| Unknown (42-17400) | 50 02.34N; 04 11.30W |
75 |
Plymouth | 2 | |
| Unknown (43-17404) | 50 02.38N; 04 06.83W |
73 |
Plymouth | 3 | |
| Unknown (54-65764) | 50 00.76N; 03 54.66W |
74 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (57-17980) | 50 03.03N; 03 51.20W |
70 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (63-18010) | 50 08.25N; 03 55.53W | 63 | Plymouth | 3 | |
| Unknown (65-18393) | 50 08.55N; 03 55.63W | 63 | Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (16169) | 49 59.92N; 05 27.46W |
58 |
Penzance | 1 | |
| Unknown (By Bell V) | 50 03 51N; 04 05 60W |
73 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (22798) | 49 48.18N; 04 35.63W |
83 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
| Unknown (22818) | 49 54.18N; 04 32.76W |
82 |
Plymouth | 1 | |
|
Unknown ( 57689) |
50 14.72N; 02 40.57W |
60 |
|
Weymouth |
1 |
Adamantios J Pithos (The Greek)
The Greek was a 380 foot steamer that sunk in 1940 after hitting the rocks. She was carrying grain from Rosario at the time of her sinking. There is no longer much to see, mainly a collection of plates.
The Aeneas was 493 feet long and with a beam of 60.4 feet, she weighed in at 10,058 tons. She was travelling from Hong Kong to Glasgow in 1940 when she was bombed. She was carrying a cargo of rubber, boots and sandals and other general cargo. For many years she has been used at a target by the military and she is now very broken up and scattered. There are 3 boilers, one of which is upturned. Around the wreck there are still many unexploded shells and bombs.
The Sky was a 10,715 ton Greek cargo ship that sunk in 1979 following a collision with MV Knuppel. She was 490ft x 72ft and lies on her side. The viz can be quite bad on this wreck and also dark, so it can be quite easy under these conditions to accidentally penetrate the wreck.
The Afric was 11,999 tons gross, measuring 167.6m X 19.2m. Built 1899 by Harland and Wolff, Belfast. White Star Line. She had twin quadruple exp engines and was en route from Liverpool to Sydney when she was torpedoed by UC66 on 12/02/1917 with 23 lives lost. There is a lot of trawl net on the wreck
The Akka was built in Sweden in 1942, she was 442 feet long and 56 feet wide. She sunk in 1956 after hitting Gantock rocks. At the time of her sinking she was carrying iron ore and bound for Glasgow.
This wreck is in my opinion is the best wreck in the Clyde area. It has everything, holes to explore, abundant life, covered in huge plumose anemones. You can extend bottom time by staying shallow or alternatively do the whole dive below 30 metres.
The Alaunia was sunk by a mine in 1916. She was a Cunard liner 13,405 tons, 520 feet long and a beam of 64 feet. She stands about 12 metres proud of the seabed in places.
The Alexander Kennedy was
built in 1932, and was 1,313 tons. She was 69.2m x 11.1m. She was torpedoed by
U1004 on Feb 22nd 1945 together with the Canadian escort corvette
Trentonian, in Convoy BTC 26.
The stern is intact with 4 bladed prop and rudder still in place. Boiler holds
up part of the superstructure but well broken forward of this.
The Alex was sunk by a mine at the beginning of the Second World War. She was a Belgian passenger liner measuring 420 feet long by 57 feet, weighing in at 5,965 tons. When she was sunk she was on her way to New York.
The Alice Marie was a steel barque that was sunk in 1909. The wreck was well salvaged in the 1980's
The Amazon was 187 feet x 36 feet and had a weight of 1081 tons. She was sunk in 1866 while en route from Spithead to Halifax, Nova Scotia following a collision with a ship called the Osprey. The wreck is now quite broken and lies close to the seabed, only standing up 2 to 3 metres at most. There are remains of the teak frame and the copper sheets that once clad the hull.
The Aparima was a 5,704 ton liner, 430 feet long by 54 feet wide. She was torpedoed in 1917 by a German sub while traveling from London to Barry, in total 56 people were killed.
The Ariadne was a mine layer and was torpedoed by UC 65. Many of the mines exploded and 38 people were killed. The wreck is now spread over a wide area and is usually done as drift dive.
The Auguste Conseil was sunk by scuttling charge by U 29 in 1915. The submarine came alongside and ordered the crew of 30 to leave the vessel and charges were then placed.. She was 2,952 tons and 305 feet long by 43 feet and she was carrying coal from Cardiff to Le Havre at the time of her sinking. The wreck at this position used to be known as the Visborg, but this has since been proved incorrect. The stern and bows are much flatter than midships which stands up quite significantly.
The Austral bush was an armed British steamer weighing 4,398 tons. She was traveling from Le Havre to Cardiff when she was torpedoed by UC-31 in 1917. At the time that I dived her we found a telegraph jammed under some plates, but we were unable to move it.
The Avalanche was an iron 3 masted sailing ship that weighed in at 1,210 tons, was 214 feet long and 36 feet across the beam. She sunk in 1877 after a collision with a ship called The Forest taking all but 3 of the 97 people on board with her. She is now quite flat and there are lots of bottles to be found as you dig around.
The Baron Ardrossan was 1,451 tons and 243ft x 34ft. She sank in 1898 after hitting the rocks off Porthgain in thick fog. The wreck is very broken up due to the effect of storms and the shallow depth. The stern is the most intact and the prop is still there, as is a boiler.
The Barshaw, later renamed the Yewforest was sunk in 1942 by German E boats. She weighed 815 tons and was 199 feet long. The wreck is tilted to the starboard side and the bows are tilted back leaving them in the air. The prop and rudder still in place albeit covered in nets.
The Baygitano was a steam ship of 3,073 tons and was sunk buy a torpedo from UC-77 while en route from Le Havre to Cardiff. Well broken but with 2 very large boilers, plus other winches, motors etc. She measured 330 feet long with a beam of 45 feet.
The Beagle an iron steamship was employed as a passenger and cargo vessel, mainly working between Glasgow and Belfast. She was 189 feet long and 26 feet wide. She was only one year old when she sunk after a collision with a steamer called Napoli off Skate point.
Lots of lionsmane jelly fish on and around this wreck and once again I got stung. Inside the holds there are many types of anemones and also dead men’s fingers adorning the sides.
This well broken wreck lies in Milford haven and while being a good dive in itself is often dived when boats cannot venture further out. She sank in 1940 after hitting a mine. She was 6,100 tons and 436ft x 57ft and carried general government stores at the time of her sinking.
There are many gullies to explore just off the wreck with a considerable amount of life there.
The Bell Virtu was a German
vessel weighing in at 499 tonnes. She was 80.8m X 12.5m.
She was en route from Waterford to Rosenburg with containers and sank following
collision in dense fog with bulk carrier Maritime Pioneer in April 2003.
There is no sign of the
containers on the wreck but there is a mark on the sounder some way off that may
be them.
At the bows the port anchor is in place, there is a small entrance under the
forcastle deck and this area has heaps of silt, there is an entrance here but it
is only about 2 feet wide.
In the front hold there are a lot of 6 inch 45 degree pipe bends, these all seem
to be a hiding place for a huge number of congers, the heads are poking out
everywhere)
Then at the stern the prop and rudder are in place, and as stated earlier the
wreck stands up quite high as the wheel house etc is totally intact, even down
to the handrails running around the various companionways. I could have got
around these companionways (just) but getting inside would have been a problem
as the entrances were very narrow and would have needed to drop off both
sidemounts to have any chance.
There is some trawl net at the stern.
This wreck was originally thought to be the Dagmar until a local diver proved otherwise. She sunk in 1926 having ripped her hull on Prowle Point.
When I dived this wreck I found the prop shaft and even I can navigate along that so actually managed to see quite a lot of the wreck. On the wreck itself there were lots of fish, in many areas the shoals of bib virtually obscured the wreck itself. Other than this saw several lobsters, and 3 congers.
The Binnendyk was a Dutch steamship sunk on 8th October 1939 after hitting a mine. She was 400ft in length and weighed in at almost 7,000 tons.
I can’t write much else about this wreck as I haven’t got a clue what the wreck looks like, or where I was most of the time, due to the viz being only about half a metre.
The Birgitte was a 1,600 ton steamer that was traveling from Barry to Southampton in ballast. She measured 253 feet by 39 feet. She was sunk following an attack by E Boats in Nov 1942. Close to the 2 boilers the condenser is visible although access is limited as there is debris over it, similarly the engine is also covered. The bows, which are to the north east are twisted to starboard, and there is a lot of netting here.
The Hawk was a 7,191 ton liberty ship that was torpedoed in 1944 by U-772. She was 441ft x 57ft. The stern of the wreck was towed away into deeper water and the bows have been blasted several times and the wreck is now quite broken up.
The Boadicea was a World War 2 destroyer that was sunk in 1944 while escorting a convoy. A German aircraft dropped a torpedo which when it exploded blew her virtually in half forward of the engine room, killing 170 men in the process. She lies upright on the bottom with a stern gun in place pointing upwards. The depth charge launcher is still there fully loaded with depth charges. These are also littered around the deck and the surrounding sea bed. There are also what look to be 4 torpedo launchers at the stern, some loaded.
The Boma was a 2,694 ton ship which was 312 feet long. She was carrying potatoes and hay en route from Belfast to the Isle of Wight when she was torpedoed by UB-80 in June 1918. There is not usually a lot of viz on this wreck.
The Borgny was a 1,149 ton Norweigian steamer, 228ft x 36ft. She was carrying 1,500 tons of coal when hit by a torpedo in 1918. It was at first thought that she had hit a mine as there was no claim from a U boat skipper of hitting her, fortunately there was no loss of life.
The Borgund 1 was 190 feet x 30 feet and weighed 763 tons. She was en route from Port Talbot to Rouen when she was torpedoed by UB-40, as claimed by Oberleutenant Howaldt after he also sunk the Chateau Yquem. The wreck lies on the port side and there is supposedly a gun on the stern. Forward of the boilers there is a swim through on the way to the bows where a large anchor is still in place.
The Bretagne was a 1,439 tons steamer which could also hoist 2,000 square feet of sail. She was 232ft x 35ft and carrying 1,500 tons of coal when involved in a collision in 1918. One person was killed when they went down below just before the ship went down. The wreck currently sits upright and there are usually lots of fish to be seen. Quite a lot of angling goes on so care needs to be taken for monofilament line.
The Britannia was a 740 ton steamship that sank after running into The Crumstone in 1915. It is rumoured that many of the local inhabitants benefited from the cargo although as the person packing the cargo had packed army boots with the left and right feet in separate crates many people had salvaged pairs which only contained either one or the other.
The British Inventor was sunk by a mine in 1940 en route to Abadan. She was a 7,000 ship but only the bow part sank, while the rest was towed away for repair. All that is left now is a pile of plates but makes for a comfortable second dive. After completing the dive it is possible to drift off onto scallop beds of Lulworth Banks.
The Brummer is another light cruiser/minelayer and weighs in at 4308 tons and is 462 feet long. She is lying on her starboard side and the depth over her port side is approximately 20 metres. She could carry 360 mines which was 3 times as many as other German minelayers. Because of this large payload she only had four 5.9 inch guns, and two 3.4 inch guns. She was however capable of a speed of 28 knots, as was her sister ship the Bremse.
The Calburga was a wooden sailing ship sank in 1912 after hitting Pen Brush Point. Not a lot left to see now, but the anchor and chain are still there
The Camberwell was a British steamer of some 4,100 tons and 112 metres long and was sunk in 1917. She is currently at a seabed depth of 29 metres.
The Camswan was a cargo ship weighing 3,400 tons. She was 101m long with a beam of 15.5m. She sank in 1917 off St Catherine's point after a collision with the Polbrae. The wreck is extensively broken up and in most parts is just a tangle of metal.
This was listed as Butetown
by the Hydrographic, but the Butetown had 2 boilers and is larger than this
wreck.
The Carolus was 1,041 tons gross and was carrying coal from Cardiff when she was
torpedoed on the starboard side. The men managed to get into the lifeboats and
rowed to shore.
The wreck is very well broken. It has a triple expansion
engine and one boiler. The engine has a reversing wheel on the starboard side
also 3 steam gauges. Aft of the engine a shaft tunnel leads to the reasonably
intact stern which is upright. The forward part of the wreck looks to be on its
starboard side as one can see a small hatch and bollards on their side. The bow
area is completely smashed up. A lamp marked STYRBORD has been recovered. On a
second visit there a bell was recovered.
The Caroni River was a 7807 ton oil tanker. She struck a mine on January 20th 1940, just after leaving the harbour. She sank very quickly, apparently within an hour of the explosion. This caused some panic in the local area as it was believed that the area was clear of mines, having been recently swept.
The Antwerp was 67.2 metres by 9.2 metres, and weight 884 gross tons. She sank in 1882 following a collision with the Constantia. She has been identified by a candlestick which was engraved with the ship's name. The same lucky finder also retrieved a steam whistle. She sits upright, albeit somewhat broken up on a 74 metres seabed.
The Chateau weighed in at 1913 tons and was torpedoed in 1917 by UB40 while traveling from Dunkirk to Barry. She sits upright and is covered with plumose anemones. The bow is intact and the anchors are still in place.
To the South East of Plymouth lies this wreck sitting upright on the seabed at 66 metres. The bows are reasonably intact. Further aft there is one large boiler and a donkey boiler alongside. She was built in 1901 on the Clyde and was 69.46 metres by 10.49 metres, weighing in at 1,218 gross tons.
The Chris Christensen was a Danish steamer 1,491 tons, 250 feet long and 37 feet wide. She came to grief in 1915 when she ran aground on the Longstone Reef.
The Waterford was a 1,338 ton ship and was sunk in 1949. As we went down the shot it was difficult to see the wreck, mainly due to the fact that it was obscured by a huge shoal of bib. On the wreck itself it seemed that we were always having to avoid fish, this is no exaggeration as anyone who had dived the Waterford will confirm. This wreck probably has more Tompot Blennies than any other that I have seen.
The Countess is an old paddle steamer 830 tons and 241 ft in length. In 1935 she broke from her moorings and hit the harbour wall. The wreck is upright and you can poke around quite a bit in its holds. However it is very silty and incorrect fining can soon mess up the viz.
The Dakotian was 6,426 tons and 400ft x 52ft. At the time of her sinking in 1940 she was carrying tin plate, and Xmas puddings. Her demise was caused by hitting magnetic mines that were dropped by a Heinkel 111H
The Dakotian is quite a large wreck and there are plenty of holes to explore.
The Dartmeet weighed in at 886 tons and was lost in 1916 following a collision. She was 61.1 metres by 9.6 metres.
The engine and boiler are in place and there was also what I assume was a donkey boiler. The stern is probably the most intact area of the wreck. Towards the bows there was a gill net draped right across the wreck. The depth is generally about 74 metres.
Pretty much broken up and lying just outside the harbour wall. Not a particularly good wreck and the only occasion that I have dived it I got fed up after just a few minutes and then wandered off to look at other things.
The Duke was 115 metres by 11 metres, and weighed 3100 tons. She sank following a collision with the Vandalia in 1889 with all hands. The stern is more intact than the bows which have fallen apart. The ship was carrying a lot of crockery, some plain white and some more ornamental.
The W H Dwyer was a 1,770 ton steamer that was in ballast en route from Rouen to Newport when she was sunk by Uberleutenant Umberger in UB-38 on August 26th 1917, (just after he sank the Claverley). The wreck is intact at the bows and stern but the midships is completely destroyed. There is a lot of jumbled steelwork forward, this is probably the remains of the bridge.
The Eastpoint weighed in at 5,234 tons, was 390 feet in length and 51 feet wide. She was torpedoed by U 48 in 1917 while on her way from London to the USA. At the stern there is an anti aircraft gun and a little further forward another bigger gun.
The Edam weighed in at 3,130 tons. and was 100.01 metres long and 12.59 metres wide. The second ship to bear this name and she was sunk in 1895 following a collision with the Turkistan en route from New York to Rotterdam. The latter ship although damaged was able to continue to Cardiff. The Edam sits upright on the sea bed at 74 metres. It looks as if she has sunk into the seabed. All 95 crew and passengers of the Edam were safely taken in to Plymouth.
The wreck is upright and partly
sunken into the seabed. The highest area is behind the boilers where the engine
has been tipped over and the starboard hull has collapsed inward. One large
boiler is on end and part buried and another smaller boiler is also on end. The
portside hull here is almost non existent signifying heavy damage to this area.
Part of the bridge structure still survives. Forward of this both hull sides are
intact , there is a large winch in this area and an intact hatch combing. The
focastle area is reasonably intact and the bows are complete with a bit of the
stem post sticking up. The upper part of the port bow has collapsed inward
carrying the heavy lead scrollwork. Possibly a similiar situation has occurred
on the starboard side. The bows are to the North. Midships is the enormous two
cylinder engine lying on its portside and having the appearance of being
displaced to starboard. Close to this the starboard boiler is in situ and
partially covered by the starboard hull. The whole starboard side has collapsed
inward snapping the frames at seabed level in the after section. The propshaft
runs out through a thrust block and for most of its length is covered by the
collapsed hull. It is possible to swim through this area and at one point exit
by the broken frames to see a vista of rolling sandwaves. Close by here is the
after hatch combing. Typical liner size and smaller than the normal cargo type.
There is a flat area on the starboard side then the stern section rises 7m. A
solid looking square "lump" is here. The stern tops off at 69m depth.
It is quite a tangle and also looks to be falling over to port. Swimming to the
right of this brings you to the rudder and prop. The prop looks to be nearly
horizontal and displaced towards the port side. Returning to midships is another
tangle of wreckage just forward of the boilers where the bridge should be.
Strangely the builders plate, telegraph remains and part of the wheel were found
at the stern. Some of the forward area appears to be part buried in the sand.
(Write up by Nick Chipchase)
The Elena R was sunk by
a mine in 1939 while en route to Antwerp. She was a
The Eleanor was 1,980 tons and 270ft x 36ft. She was a steamship that was carrying anti shipping mines and depth charges when she was torpedoed by UB57. She is more or less upright.
The Elk was a former
trawler weighing in at 181 tons. She sank in The
The Elsa was a Norwegian steamer of some 3,581 tons and 335ft x 48ft. She sank after being torpedoed by UB31 in 1918 while carrying a cargo of coal.