Scuba Trip

Drift Dive - Rock ledges surrounded by sandy areas at a depth of 12 -16m. Suitable for new divers and a great drift dive to catch some fish. Marine life will include lobsters, crabs, flat fish and squid if you are lucky.

Ideal as a second dive site - These two sites are abundant with marine life and particularly giant Lobsters and crabs. Under the pier you will find many areas where people have dropped items such as coins. Look out for one of the very old large 'One Penny's' with Queen Victoria's head. Odd things such glasses, drinking and wearing and many more treasures. Suitable for new divers and as second dives of the day.

Drift Dive - Mainly rock and chalk gullies, and plenty of marine life.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Sank 16th November 1942. British Government Steamship, 215 ton, 36m x 7m x 3.5m. This wreck is broken up and scattered over a large area. The boiler is the only intact section. Suitable for new divers and wreck training divers.

Recreational Wreck Dive - British Steamship built 1921, and sank 14th April 1949 in collision with a 5.500 ton Greek Steamer Marpessa in thick fog. 81m long with a beam of 11m she sits upright in around 28m of water 7m from the seabed in parts. She is still quite intact and has lots of brass, galley pots and pans and many other artefacts. Most of the superstructure is open and is safe to enter; both the stern and bow are quite intact and recognisable. The mid section is fairly broken up. The Waterford's bow and stern is smothered in anemones or commonly known as dead mans fingers. Many resident Pollack swarm the wreck like many other wrecks in the area, lobsters, crabs, Conger Eels, and look out for the scallops in the sand for your tea.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Dutch Steamship built 1912, sank 22nd October 1916 when hit a mine possibly by the UC-60 with a loss of 15 of her crew. She is 81m long with a 11m beam and 1.254 tons. Holed at the stern and possible to enter but with care as heavily silted. Highly recommended to line off. The cargo was cement bags, which are still visible in the hold and deck areas. Good for scallops in the seabed.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Built 1918 and sank 14th August 1918 by the final victim of the UB-37 when she also sank that day. She is 137m long, with a 17m beam and 7.094 tons. The wreck is more or less complete (apart from the stern which is broken off) and covered in dead mans finger. Good dive.

Recreational Wreck Dive - 6.311 ton and 124m long. Some confusion over the name as potentially could be the Ikeda or City of London built in Newcastle 1891. If she is the Ikeda she sank on 21st March 1918 by a torpedo from UB-40 on her way to Galveston Texa from London.

The wreck lies 7m high and is well broken up. It has been said that this site in fact could be two wrecks on top of each other. Good beginners dive to get the feel of a UK wreck and plenty of fish life.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Built 1899, British Steamer sunk on 18th April 1918 by a torpedo from UB-40. The wreck of the 3,382-ton, was laden with coal lies broken up amidships. Her big boilers are still prominent with the stern and bow sections including an anchor at both ends. She is standing 7m high. There is a gun at the stern and a large propeller. The Pentrych is a great beginners dive and takes around 25mins to go from end to end. The marine life is abundant with usual suspects of schools of Cod and Pollack, Lobsters, edible and Spiny Crabs, Conger Eels, Bass.

Recreational Wreck Dive - The Steam trawler is sitting upright with a slight list to starboard. She started to break up amidship in the mid 80's exposing the engine room with an assortment of new goodies, such as brass valves and fittings. The Steam trawlers iron propeller and ruder is still in place. At 30m in length and a beam of 10m this is an easy wreck dive to do even if a little broken up, but ideal for the beginners.

The Jaffa was proceeding at full speed down the English Channel, when at just after midnight on 2nd February 1918, she was hit by a torpedo, and started to sink. The immediate order was given to abandon ship. The vessel sank 3 minutes after the initial explosion with the loss of ten lives.

Oceana 25-30mts (From Eastbourne)

Recreational Wreck Dive - Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, London (P&O). Built in 1888 and sank 16th March 1912 when collided with the German four-masted steel sailing barque - Pisagna. She is 141m long, with a 16m beam. The Boilers are exposed and standing 6m high, but parts of the wreck are covered in shifting sand. The cargo was; 40 passengers, over £740,000 worth of Silver Coins, Gold Ingots, and Ivory. All except a few ingots have been recovered in the immediate diving salvage operation.

Originally first in service the Oceana was on a London to Sydney route, via Colombo and Melbourne. After a long refit, she later switched to the London Bombay route after being replaced by the newer and bigger Mooltan. Oceana departed from Bombay on 15th march 1912 and later that evening entered the English Channel. In the early hours of the following morning the 2850 ton German four-masted steel sailing barque Pisagua, rammed into the side of the Oceana. She sustained a massive 12m gash in her side, but remarkably managed to stay afloat for 6 hours. During this time, the passengers and crew managed to take to the lifeboats. Unfortunately, one of the lifeboats capsized while being launched, with the loss of 9 lives. A harbour vessel, which was quick to respond to the tragedy, later rescued the remaining survivors, and possibly saved many more lives.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Built 1910 small British merchantman of 1,553tons, and sunk with explosives from UB-39 on 28th November 1916 after being captured. The Ramsgarth lies upright 5m high on her starboard side. The stern is also intact, but collapsing around the amidships section, and the boiler and the engine can be seen. Visibility in this area is often good and can be over 15m.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Lost 1st May 1906. Steamship 107m by 14m, 3411 tons. With triple expansion engines which sit 6m high, the wreck stands 2m high with a 3m scour at the stern. She was on passage from Junin to Dover, when in collision with the Kate Thomas, 36 onboard died.

T.R. Thompson 32-36m

Recreational Wreck Dive - Built 1897 sunk 29th March 1918 by a single torpedo from UB-57. Three saved from 36 crew. 110m long with 14m beam 3.538 tn cargo steamer. Armed with 4.7 inc gun on stern. Cargo was 5600 tons of iron ore. The T.R Thompson is upright with her bows to the east and partially buried. Her superstructure has collapsed, and the highest point (7m high) is the stern and ammunition can be found hear below the gun. She has a long break almost halfway along her length. Conger Eels and Lobsters like this area to hide. Very Interesting dive and alot of marine life.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Steamship, British merchantman, Sank April 1916, when on passage from Boulogne to Newport when torpedoed by UB-29. 116m long with a beam of 15.2m and 4,575 tons. Her cargo of shells and ammunition are all around. 1,800 tons stern is intact and on her port side. The Braunton is listing about 60 degrees on her port side. Bows pointing to the west with the stern 13m high. Great spot for scallops on the seabed.

Recreational Wreck Dive - Built 1913, Steel Cunard Liner Steamship sunk 19th October 1916 on voyage from New York to London, and struck a mine and sank losing 2 lives. 164m long with a beam of 20m and 13,405 gross tons holding 2,060 passengers in two classes. Her cargo was 180 passengers A very impresive wreck and perhaps 'The biggest wreck on the Sussex coast'. The Alaunia is lying at a 45-degree angle on her port side with the bow pointing to the east. She is sitting 12m proud and the amidship and stern is badly broken up, but the wheelhouse is relatively intact, but still a very impressive site.

Technical Wreck Dive - This is usually done when we have the 2-3 day Mid-Channel France trip. But occasionally can be done for a day trip but mid summer, as there is 6hrs of motoring to do return.

Built in 1906, commissioned in WW1 6th October 1915 as a hospital ship HMHS Lanfranc with accommodation for 403 wounded. Sunk 17 April 1917 by torpedo from a German submarine UB-40.17 British and 17 German patients were lost. 217m long with 16m beam and gross 6287 tonnage. This is a technical dive and requires divers to use twinset tanks or rebreathers to take advantage of extended range diving and mixed gas plans. This is a superb wreck with excellent visibility in the range of 8-20m. She sits on the bottom upright and ready to dive with many recognisable features. Most divers say the one dive is not enough time to do her justice. The bow and stern are intact, salvage is not permitted as this is on the French side. So please do not bring any portholes or inedible goodies up, unless you wish to book a cell for one in the local establishment.

Technical Wreck Dive - This is usually done when we have the 2-3 day Mid-Channel France trip. But occasionally can be done for a day trip but mid summer, as there is 6hrs of motoring to do return.

Built in 1912, Sunk a German Submarine UC-49 by torpedo while transporting 700 wounded soldiers from Le Havre to Southampton. 123 lives were lost and is an official war grave. Originally intended for the East-West Australian coastal service, but requisitioned by the Admiralty and used as a troop ship in 1915 and then a hospital ship in 1916. The Warilda stands 10m high and lists 45-degrees to the port and is fairly intact but large trawler nets obscure alot and caution must be taken in these areas. This is a fantastic dive to do, she is big bold and definitely beautiful with 8-20m visibility.

The Moldavia 50-55mts (30 miles from Brighton)

Technical Wreck Dive - Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, London (P&O). Built 1901, commandeered by government as armed merchant cruiser 1915 to transport US soldiers from England to France, and sank on 23rd May 1918 with 57 US soldiers killed. She is 158m long with a 18m beam. Lying on her port side the starboard is reached first at about 35m. So you have a 20m overall height to dive. You can follow the starboard side from end to end in one dive at the 35m depth, but it is highly recommended to gain Technical Diver Training to plan for the extra gas and extended bottom time required. It is not recommended to enter the wreck in low visibility conditions but stay outside where you will still have a great dive. Again this is a superb big wreck vertually intact apart from amidship where the torpedo hit and considered as one of the best wrecks off the Sussex coast. She is far enough away from the many fishing trawlers that request flattening of wrecks. The Moldavia has six-inch guns on the stern deck pointing to the surface. The stern is the most interesting intact part with lots of debris to rummage through such as live shells and empty cases. The visibility is usually in the 5m range during winter and up to 20m in the summer. Due to its distance away from coastal waters and near the shipping channel the visibility on average is better than inshore waters. An excellent dive that is famous for its good visibility.

Technical Wreck Dive - Built 31st january 1944. Steamship, 76.2m by 13m, 183 tons. Height 11m from the seabed and broken and twisted sections. Many portholes still in tact. HSe was on passage from London to Newport, when torpedoed.

The Clan MacMillan 60- 65m

Technical Wreck Dive - Positively identified in 2003, Steamship Built 1901, sank 23rd march 1917. 120m long with a beam of 15m. Carrying general cargo between South African ports, Australia and India. Surviving a cyclone off Madras, during which lightening arced several times from the masthead to the sea. 200 tons of dynamite, which formed part of the cargo broke adrift. Soon after she was to be lost as a result of enemy action by 2 torpedoes.

The wreck now lies in 65m of water and sits 12m high, but broken in two parts about 26m apart at the base of the wreck, this is the suspected torpedo hit. There is a large trawl net covering the break at the stern. There are many access points and the interior silts quickly so lining off and technical trimix diver training is highly recommended.

Technical Wreck Dive - Built 1874 and sunk 7th March 1889 in collision with a wooden sailing ship Vandalia, and all 47 crew died. 1125m long with a beam of 12m and 3.099 tons. 'The Duke', as she is commonly known, is another deep and potentially dangerous 'China Fever' dive. The four-masted iron steamer was carrying a cargo of 600 tons of hand painted Belgian china and coloured glassware when she was sunk. She sits upright and the deck is around 50-54m and to the seabed around 60-65m. She is very easily to navigate. Caution when entering the collapsed holds at the stern, while the bow is quite broken. The visibility is usually again very good with on average 10m. Lift bags will need to be used as the plates and glass get very heavy. But don't get too carried away 'China Fever' and get yourself stuck in wreck. This is a fantastic dive and hard to believe there is so much treasure that is assessable nowadays. Some copper ingots in the sand have been found. One of my favourite dives in the UK.

Technical Wreck Dive - Usually dived when doing one of the Mid-Channel trips towards Cherbourg. Originally owned by the Midland Railway Company, the Donegal was requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1915 for conversion to a hospital ship. On 17 April 1917 she was being used to carry 639 wounded soldiers from Le Harve to Southampton when she was torpedoed and sunk by UC-21.

The Donegale sits upright in 48m of water in an area of extreme and hazardous tides, but the visibility can be superb. The helm and some of the bridge section can still be seen in place such are some of the portholes. This is a potentially dangerous and dark dive so extended range training, and being fully equipped is highly recommended but worth the effort of seeing this wreck.

Technical Wreck Dive - Usually dived when doing one of the Mid-Channel trips towards Cherbourg. Steamship Built in 1944 as a landing ship and sank 28th December 1944 when on route from Portsmouth to Le Havre when she was torpedoed by U-772. 121 m long and with a beam of 18m and 7.177 tons. She lies in an area with extreme tides. The helm and the bridge are the main interesting features still found.

Technical Wreck Dive - Usually dived when doing one of the Mid-Channel trips towards Cherbourg. The Osprey was a minesweeper, is intact currently lying on her port side. The bronze wheelhouse is intact including the bridge gear inside.

Technical Wreck Dive - Canadian Corvette “Flower Class” worked the English Channel from April to August of 1944 searching for U-boats and protecting the supply ships that were the life blood of the Normandy landings. She was sunk after being torpedoed by U-480 on 21 August 1944 while patrolling south of the Isle of Wight with the loss of 59 of her crew. Today she sits on her side, intact, 12 m proud in 66m.The ‘Alberni’ is in the same area as the Osprey and has excellent visibility and is easily accessed with lots of places for diver trinkets. Trimix certified if possible.

Technical Wreck Dive - Built 1913 and sank 1917. The HMS Minion is a WW1 M-class destroyer. She is 84m long with a beam of 8m and 1,025 tons. The bridge has collapsed and is resting northeast to southwest. The Minion foundered under tow and sank on her way to the breakers. She was armed with three 4-inch guns, one 2-pounder pom-pom and four 21-inch torpedo tubes in pairs.

This is a predominantly a flat wreck quite close to the sand, but a good technical training dive site. Alot of Pollack and Lobsters.

Technical Wreck Dive - The Swiss Motorship of 5,300 tons was lost 15th June 1962 when collided with Jalazad. The Nyon's cargo was automobiles and steel. The Nyon sits is 45m of water, her bow at 10m high, sits to the west and well broken up. The bridge stands 14m high, and there are plenty of trawl nets - Dive With Caution ! Good Decompression Procedures Dive.

Technical Wreck Dive - Built in 1937, Greek Cargo Steamship sunk on passage from Antwerp to Pirzus, when collided with Linde on 28th August 1967. At 5,189 tons she is relatively modern and sits 10m or so upright with the bow section adorning two admiralty anchors. Most of the interesting parts are in the 50m depths and not alot at the 60m seabed. The bow mast lays just past the winches across the wreck. The bridge can be accessed and the helm is still secured. The holds and accommodation block can also be accessed but as with any penetration dive be careful of silting out and use a line when entering just in case. The stern still accommodates the rudder and the propeller. Many fish swarm this wreck but you are advised to dive only on slack water using trimix. An excellent dive when you can do it.

Brighton Directions
 

Brighton is easily accessed from London via the M25, M23 and the A23. Likewise, from the west, Brighton is easily accessed from Portmouth via the A27.

Nearing Brighton, you should head along the A27 towards Lewes, (ignoring the A23 to Hove), and should turn off on the B2123, for Saltdean and Rottingdean. Follow the B2123, Falmer Road, until the right turn at the Downs Hotel into Warren Road. 1 mile, turn left, cross over Brighton Race Course, into Wilson Avenue. Straight over the lights at the bottom of the hill, following signs to the Marina.

Drive down the road to the roundabout, turn off by the Asda petrol station. Drive through McDonalds car park and unload kit at the at the bottom of the wheelchair ramp adjacent to the West Quay (next to West Quay pub and McDonalds). Please do not park in the RNLI emergency parking bays.

Trolleys should be available to wheel kit to the top of the ramp which leads down to the boats. Please carry your kit down the ramp as it is narrow and steep at low water.

Park in the free multi-storey car park. (Note for vans:only 6' headroom. Use Marina eastern car park. Swipe card required from skipper)