Dive Sites

If you are planning some dives off the local coast, you need to know a bit about the dive sites.

We are fortunate to have a range of sites that include reefs, drifts, wrecks, shallow, deep, easy and
those that are more demanding - so there's something for every level of diver.

Here then is some information about the various sites available locally (depths shown are
approximate) ...

Check out our dive schedule by clicking here for dates and times we are diving some of these sites.

dive site	type	maximum depth	description

Mulberry Harbour	scenic / wreck	12m	Remnant of the WW2 D Day landings. this 200m long concrete barge is a haven for crabs, lobster, cuttlefish and various species of fish, which shelter in the nooks and crannies. A great dive for the inexperienced diver.

Nab Tower	scenic / drift	20m	A remnant of Britain's sea defences. A good dive for the less experienced with lots of sea life, with depths down to 20m.

Mixon Hole	scenic / drift	5m to 25m	Some believe it to be the flooded site of a Roman Amphitheatre, others a natural seabed fault. Stunning sea life and scenery.

Bembridge Ledges	reef / drift	10m	Drift dive over rocky ledges and gullies, which are home to numerous crabs and lobsters. Many ships have ended their days here and it is not unusual to come across wreckage.

Solent Forts	scenic / drift	10m	Three separate forts can be found in the east of the Solent which are diveable at most states of the tide. Built around 1880 they offer a good rummage dive.

Bracklesham Bay	drift	10m	Good shallow drift diving over a sandy and rocky seabed.

Landing Craft	wreck	8m to 10m	As yet unidentified and first discovered in 1984. An intact tank landing craft upside down in 8m. 22mm shells are still to be found scattered around on the seabed

Francis Aimee	wreck	13m	French Collier of 699 tons which sank in 1918 after a collision with the Royal Navy patrol boat HMS P35. Now lying in 13m she stands 3m high. Her bow is buried but her stern is intact.

Camswain	wreck	20m	3,500 ton British Steamship sunk in 1917. She was dispersed with explosives in the 1920’s but still stands an average of 3-4m off of the seabed. A fantastic rummage dive covering a massive area. Sheltered in Sandown Bay, this is a good option during bad weather.

Edenwood	wreck	15m	140-foot long collier, which sank on Christmas day 1939 after a collision. Now sitting in a natural scour in 15m.

Louis	wreck	18m	This 380 ft long cargo ship was torpedoed by UC 71 in 1918. Despite significant salvage much of her huge cargo of brass shell cases is still there with new boxes being uncovered each year. Her twin boilers stand 4m off of the seabed, covering the whole wreck is round lead shot from her shells. Sheltered in Sandown Bay this is a good option during bad weather.

HMS Boxer	wreck	20m	One of Britain’s earliest destroyers, she sank in a collision just 2 miles off of the beach at Sandown Bay. Her easy access makes her a popular dive as jars, bottles and shell cases are still to be found.

Shirala	wreck	25m	Small liner carrying a cargo of Elephant tusks when sunk by UB 57 in 1918. Now sitting 8m proud in 25m.

Cuba	wreck	30m	The largest shipwreck in Hampshire at 11, 420 tons this 4-funnel liner was torpedoed in October in 1940 by U 1195. For many years she was rarely dived due to being in a designated dumping area. Since this was stopped in 2001 the visibility has cleared up. This huge ship is now spread over a massive area and makes an interesting dive.

Camberwell	wreck	30m	Broken amidships with an intact bow and stern this WW1 cargo steamer still retains much of her cargo of wine, champagne, perfume and blocks of prepaid postcards intended for the British troops stationed in India. Many portholes can still be seen, several of which were reputed to have been recovered in 2003.

Highland Brigade	wreck	32m	5,600 ton merchant ship torpedoed by UC 71 on 7 April 1918. Still standing 8m high and very intact.

Kurland	wreck	32m	Built in 1888, this 2,022 ton steam ship was heading from New York with a cargo of war supplies for the Belgian government when she was rammed amidships by the British Steamer Deventia and rapidly sank. Today she lies 7m proud in 35 metres her cargo of rifles providing her more common name of the rifle wreck.

Leon	wreck	32m	Large WW1 cargo vessel lying close to the Kurland. Stands 7m proud in 30m

Prince Leopold	wreck	35m	A 2938 ton ex Belgian ship which was converted to an infantry landing craft and torpedoed by U 261 whilst under Royal Navy command on 29 July 1944. Today she still stands some 10m high and is largely upright and intact with a slight list to starboard.

Polo	wreck	30m	A 2951 ton passenger/cargo ship torpedoed in 1918 by UB 57. Now standing 7m at the stern but heavily broken towards the bow.

Schooner	wreck	30m	A real mystery, (often referred to as the French Barque) this wooden sailing ship is sometimes totally covered by sand and other times is 3-4m clear. Three masted with a substantial bowsprit, sail material can sometimes be seen sticking out of the sand. Crockery recovered suggests a vessel of the 1700’s.

UB 81	submarine	32m	The UB 81 hit a British Mine on 2 December 1917 on her first and last mission. After settling on the seabed immobilised but largely intact, the commander Reinhold Salzwedel, ordered his men to pump all available air into the bow and managed to raise the torpedo tubes above the surface. Eight men managed to escape before HMS P12 crashed into the stricken sub sending her back to the bottom with the loss of 26 of her crew. Today the UB 81 is broken in two by the conning tower, and salvage has opened both bow and stern allowing views inside.

U 1195	submarine	30m	This submarine was responsible for sinking amongst others, the Cuba and the James Eagan Layne. Now resting in just 30m of water she can be toured on just one dive. As she sits on a hard shingle bed visibility is usually good. The pressure hull is beginning to rot offering views of the inside.

U 90	submarine	35m	After sinking in excess of 100,000 tons of allied shipping U 90 survived the war, was handed over to Britain after surrendering, but broke her tow on the way to the breakers yard. As a result she remarkably intact.

Crestflower	wreck	35m	The Crestflower was converted from a trawler to be used by the Admiralty as a minesweeper. Armed with a single 12 pound gun, which now lies on the seabed beside the wreck, she sank after being attacked by a German Aircraft in July 1940.

Mendi	wreck	35m	Carrying 800 South African Labourers to France to assist in the construction of gun sites, the Mendi collided with the steamer Darro in fog on 20 February 1917 with the loss of over 650 lives. Today her distinctive square portholes are still to be seen on the wreck, along with shells and small arms ammunition.

Faith	wreck	36m	This 564 ton sailing steamer was used as a troop ship during the Crimean war and subsequently sold to the Turkish Government. She foundered in 1855 and today this is a fantastic dive, as much of her general cargo of bottles of wine, spirits and preserved fruit are still to be found. Most of the hull has rusted away and the wreck is littered with hundreds of brass boiler tubes.

Warwick Deeping	wreck	36m	545 ton fishing trawler requisitioned by the admiralty for anti submarine duties. Sunk by German E Boats in 1940. Today she lies 7m proud in 36m, with her deck gun lying on the seabed.

Witte Zee	wreck	33m	125 foot salvage tug owned by Smitt & Co sunk after holing her hull during a salvage attempt on the Brother George in 1964. Today she sits largely intact in 33m.

Molina	wreck	35m	225 foot Norwegian steamer torpedoed in 1918.

Simla	wreck	40m	Launched in 1854 this steamship was on passage to Australia in January 1884 when she was in collision with the City of Lucknow and sunk south east of the Needles. Today most of the hull has rotted away leaving a mixed cargo of Crockery, steam engines and sheet marble exposed. Racks of plates are still to be found lying in the sand as well as very unusual rugby ball shaped bottles.

Moldavia	wreck	50m	9,500 ton P&O liner torpedoed in 1918, now lying on her port side in 50m. At over 500 feet long it is impossible to see on just one dive. This massive wreck is now a popular dive all year round as the distance from shore ensures good visibility.

Fort Yale	wreck	45m	An American liberty ship torpedoed by U 480 now sitting 7m proud in 45m. Much of the superstructure is intact.

Pool Fisher	wreck	40m	Coaster sank in 1979 with the loss of 13. Today she lies in 40m upside down with her bows broken off and standing on end.