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1 - The
Black Hawk
A perennial favourite, each year we dive this wreck more than any other site. A Liberty Ship which was torpedoed in Dec 1944, she is now just a pile of broken plates, masts, winches, etc. Half of the ship lies in deeper water off Portland. The marine life never disappoints - look out for big shoal of bib,
various wrasse, cuttlefish, fan coral, and of course, "Colin" the conger. The marks are easy to
spot (click here to view the
transits), but if you miss the wreck (it has been known), there are big reefs running E-W which are quite scenic.
There is a second patch of wreckage just to the SSW of the main area. Depth is about 18m. Slacks are 3 hrs before & after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 36.821' N, 2º 12.438' W.
We are now registered with the NAS as having "adopted" the Black Hawk.
2 - The British Inventor
Another pile of broken plates, this oil tanker went down after hitting a mine in June 1940. Quite hard to find, the wreck lies in a hollow scoured into the gravel bottom. Plentiful life, with the usual shoal of bib, a large friendly pollack, and several congers. Depth is now 21m (in the scour). Slacks are 3 hrs before & 2 hrs after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 35.434' N, 2º 18.475' W.
3 - The M2
An impressive wreck, the M2 was built in 1918, but sank in Jan 1932 in a tragedy which claimed the lives of all aboard. She had been converted to carry a sea-plane in a water-tight hanger, and is thought to have dived without sealing the doors properly. Still largely intact, the depth is about 34m to the seabed. Slack is 4 hrs after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 35.594' N, 2º 33.971' W.
4 - The Aeolian Sky
A Greek freighter, the "Sky" went down in Nov 1979 after a collision. Despite extensive salvage, she is reasonably intact and lies on her port side. There is a spare prop in one of her holds. Depth is about 30m. Slacks are 2 hrs before & 4 hrs after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 30.587' N, 2º 08.408' W.
5 - St Aldhelm's Ledges
Impressive underwater cliffs, dropping down to about 50m in places. Can be a scary place to be when the tide is running. Should be dived on a Neap low water slack. Best time seems to be 2 hrs 45 mins before HW Portland.
6 - The Alex van Opstal
The AVO was a Belgian liner which hit a mine in Sept 1939. Now pretty well broken up, except for the bow section. Depth is about 27m. Currents are very strong and a good slack is essential. Slacks are 3 hrs before & after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 32.430' N, 2º 15.990' W.
7 - Sue's Reef
A good evening drift dive, since it's just outside Lulworth Cove. A number of reefs run parallel with the cliffs. Can find crabs on a good night, and there are scallops off the reef.
Beware of boat traffic entering the Cove. Depth is 20 - 22m.
8 - Sea Bed Caves
An interesting spot. Smooth rock bottom, cut into blocks by crevasses. Some are large enough to stand in and you can swim under some. The depth is about 17m. Slack starts 3 hrs after HW Portland.
GPS Position: 50º 35.06' N, 2º 05.04' W (from "Dive
Dorset").
9 - HMS Hood
A complete failure as a battleship, the Hood was scuttled in Nov 1914 to block the southern entrance to Portland Harbour. The wreck is lying upside down, since she turned turtle as she sank. Depth to seabed is 18m. Best slack is from 3 hrs before HW Portland to 1 hr after.
Note: a ban on diving the Hood went into effect on 1 January 2004.
Hopefully, this decision will be reversed.
10 - Durdle Door Reef
Go inside the emergent reef
for a good, sheltered training spot for novices (6m). Further out, there are
good reefs parallel to the shore, suitable for a nice drift (20m+). Lots of scallops between the reefs.
GPS Position of good reef further out: 50º 36.858' N, 2º 16.715'
W.
For more information, we can recommend Dive Dorset by John & Vicki Hinchcliffe, Underwater World Publications, 1999 edition.
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