Alex Van Opstal Location 50 32.36N 02 16.00W
view transits Place The Shambles
 
Description: Iron hulled passenger liner, 420x57.1x26.4ft. Built 1937.
 
Cargo: Unknown
   
Voyage: New York to Antwerp. Depth: 27-30m.
 
Sunk: 15th September 1939, hit mine.
 
Diving: Large wreck, with the forward end standing 7m proud of sand and shale seabed in places. The stern end is badly broken with twisted girders and metal everywhere. The stern end is broken away and lays approx' 100m south west of the main wreckage.
 
Launch: Slack:

Weymouth/Castletown

 Slack water is essential. Beware the currents here.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2610
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Lots to look at. Current can be a problem, and the vis can drop considerably on spring tides.
   

Qualifications:

Club Diver up

photo - Steve Shovlar collection
Getting There:
 
 
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P.S. Countess of Erne Location 50 35.11N 02 25.09W
view transits Place Portland Harbour
 
Description: Paddle Steamer. Iron hull 241x29x14
 
Cargo: N/A
   
Voyage: Adrift Depth: 15m
 
Sunk: Sept' 1935. Came adrift in a gale and struck the breakwater.
 
Diving: Upright and intact with four holds. No superstructure left. The wreck is very badly silted up, so vis' can drop sharply. You can swim the entire length of the wreck through the bulkheads. There are plenty of recognisable remains to be seen, such as: winch, mast stump, davits and skeleton of deckhouse.
 
Launch: Slack:

Weymouth/Castletown

 Can be dived at any time. never any current.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2255
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Sheltered position. Generally an easy dive, good for novices. Can get crowded. lays on a silty seabed.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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The Dredger Location 50 34.00N 02 25.30W
view transits Place Portland Harbour
 
Description: Bucket dredger
 
Cargo: N/A
   
Voyage: N/A Depth: 12m
 
Sunk: Not known
 
Diving: Lays about 20m out from wall, under dockyard crane. Very broken, two sections remain laying at base of wall. To find both parts swim along base for a few minutes.
 
Launch: Slack:

Weymouth/Castletown

 Can be dived at any time.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2610
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Sheltered position. Generally lots of marine life to be seen here. Viz can get up to 10m+ Excellent novice dive. Can get crowded.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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The Enecuri (Spaniard) Location 50 34.50N 02 24.50W
Place Portland Harbour - Dorset
 
Description: 2,358 ton steamer. Built 1894 by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co Ltd as the Maristo. Iron hull 287x40ft. The Spaniard is a nickname. She was registered in Bilbao.
 
Cargo: Not known
   
Voyage: N/A Depth: 15m
 
Sunk: Driven onto breakwater in storm, December 29 1900. Crew of 26 saved except the Master Jose Roman who was drowned later when he returned to the wreck.
 
Diving: Badly silted, wreck lays almost upright rising to 5m from a silty bottom. Bow and stern are distinguishable but collapsed midships. Not a dive for large groups as silt is very easily kicked up.
 
Launch: Slack:

Castletown/Ferrybridge.

 Can be dived at any time.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2255
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Sheltered position. If you get the vis' can be an interesting dive. Usually bad vis'
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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Hartlepool Location 50 36.4N 02 25.8W
Place Weymouth, just over 1/2 mile off the Nothe.
 
Description: Iron hulled steamer. 425.5x56.2x26ft, 5,500 tons. Built 1932.
 
Cargo: Ballast.
   
Voyage: Tyne to Nova Scotia. Depth: 17m
 
Sunk: Torpedoed by E Boat July 5 1940, 15 miles S.S.W. of Portland Light. Sailed to present site before sinking. The bow was subsequently salvaged and a new stern was fitted in 1941. Rebuilt she was renamed the Zuiko, this then changed to Zuiko Maru. January 17 1968 she went aground on Yakoyama, Aomori and was then sold to the breakers.
 
Diving: On a mud and rock seabed, the wreckage lies over two areas, the main area is shown on the charts, the rest lays just to the south. Stern only, flattened by explosives. Ammunition is still found in the area, and can be dangerous if handled.
 
Launch: Slack:

Weymouth Harbour.

Being in a sheltered position you can often dive here when it is to rough elsewhere. Any state of the tide.
 
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2255
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Always available. Cross Channel ferries pass over the site. CHECK FIRST!
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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HMS Hood Location 50 34.07N 02 25.12W
DIVING NOW PERMANENTLY BANNED BY P.H.A.
 Place Portland Harbour - Dorset
 
Description: 14,150 tons, 380x75ft, Royal Sovereign class battleship. Built at Chatham, launched 30th July 1891.
 
Cargo: N/A
   
Voyage: N/A Depth: 18m (at low water her bottom is about 2m from surface)
 
Sunk: Scuttled Nov' 4 1914 to protect harbour from marauding German U Boats.
 
Diving: Diving must be planned in relation to tides. The Hood lays upside down, and reasonably intact. Buried up to gunwales in seabed, which consists of rock and silt. Some plates are missing and there is a large hole in the centre of the hull. Do not be tempted to enter the wreck as she is now in a fragile condition and you may dislodge sections of the structure, bringing it down on you!
 
Launch: Slack:

Castletown/Ferrybridge.

 Flood tide runs from 5 hours before HW. Ebb tide runs from HW to 7hours after HW. At times a 1.5m standing wave develops over the wreck on the ebb tide. It is essential that dives take place on the downstream side.
Photograph - John Hinchcliffe
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2255
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Always lots of marine life, and how often do you get to dive a Battleship? Current can be fierce.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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The James Fennell Location 49 32.75N 02 27.43W
view transits Place Halleluja Bay - Portland.
 
Description: Steam Trawler built 1918 by Fullerton & Co, Paisley. Built as Strath class auxilliary patrol vessel. 215 tons, 123 x 22ft. Armed.
 
Cargo: N/A
   
Voyage: Gibraltar to Portsmouth. Depth: 18m
 
Sunk: 16 January 1920. Ran onto rocks north of Blacknor Point in fog,
 
Diving: Very broken and scattered over rocky seabed. Ribs, some of stern and propellor can still be seen and large plates lay flat on bottom. The mast points to shore. Plenty of large crabs, pollock and Bib.
 
Launch: Slack:

Chesil Beach

Can be dived at any time, but best avoid 3 hours before high water at Portland if you dislike fairly strong currents.
Photograph - Weymouth & Portland Museum  
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2255
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Generally lots of marine life to be seen here. Normally sheltered from prevailing winds. Viz can get up to 10m+ Current can be a problem.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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Landing Craft (Lulworth) Location 50 36.93N 02 15.05W
view transits no transits available at present
 Place Lulworth Cove
 
Description: WW11 steel hulled Landing Craft
 
Cargo: N/A
   
Voyage: Not known Depth: 12m
 
Sunk: WW11
 
Diving: Now very broken with only 5m square section of wreckage which was engine room. Remains of engines and gearboxes. Rocky seabed with patches of gravel. Occasional rock outcrops stand up to 4m proud of seabed.
 
Launch: Slack:
Lulworth Cove Fairly strong current can run during springs, but generally current does not affect diving. Slack is 3 hrs before HW at Dover.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2610
  O.S. Map Ref 194/825 795
 
Pros: Cons:
Excellent novice dive. Site lies beneath route of pleasure boat. DSMB's are a must and also an easily visible A flag.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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The Myrtledene Location 50 32.18N 02 27.12W
view transits Place Mutton Cove
 
Description: 2,571 tons steel hulled steamer. 312 x 41ft
 
Cargo: Iron ore
   
Voyage: Sagunto to Rotterdam Depth: 8m
 
Sunk: Stranded in fog march 25 1912.
 
Diving: Now very broken with only boiler standing 3m proud of rocks and gravel seabed. Late in season the wreckage disappears under the kelp.
 
Launch: Slack:
Chesil Beach Fairly strong current can run parallel to shore.
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 3315
  O.S. Map Ref 194
 
Pros: Cons:
Good novice dive, close in to rocks. Tides can be a problem.
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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The Royal Adelaide Location 50 34.36N 02 28.42W
view transits Place Chesil Beach
 
Description: Built 1865 by William Patterson at Bristol. Sister ship to the Royal Sovereign. Note: the hull was almost perfectly smooth due to the use of a special coating.
 
Cargo: Passengers and general cargo including ammunition and Dutch Gin.
   
Voyage: London for Sydney. Depth: 11m
 
Sunk: Wrecked on Chesil Beach 25 November 1872. All but five on board rescued by Breeches Buoy. Casks of Gin were thrown up onto beach, and locals went wild and drank from them. 20 were dead next day having passed out and died from exposure.
 
Diving: Only bow section now remains, standing 2m proud of pebbly bottom. Wreckage consists of main chain locker, chain and winch which forms the highest point being perched on top of the wreck. Wreck lays where slope changes to horizontal terrace.
 
Launch: Slack:
Chesil Beach Fairly strong current can run parallel to shore. DO NOT attempt to enter water if a strong swell is breaking onto beach (1m+) you will not be able to get back out.
 
   
Dive Charters: Further Information:
Admiralty Chart 2515
  O.S. Map Ref 194/SY664755
 
Pros: Cons:
Generally lots of marine life to be seen here including Trigger Fish. Viz can get up to 10m+ Tides can be a problem. Also a bit of a trek across the Fleet and on over pebbly dunes to get onto beach. Don't even take a pony cylinder never mind a twin set!
   
Qualifications:
  All levels.
 
Getting There:
 
 
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