LSAC trip to Portland July 2006

Report compiled by Alex Liddon

Setting up kit early Saturday morning

Dive 1 - Alex Van Opstal

This ship was almost brand new when she also succumbed to the mines near the Shambles bank. She was a large passenger/cargo vessel and like the Benny is often a good bad weather dive. Her bow is intact and stands some 7 metres high as you travel along towards the stern she is more and more broken. As with several wrecks near to Portland she is only safely diveable at one particular state of the tide so again local knowledge is advisable. Max depth 30M

Getting back into the boat was easy thanks to the hydrolic lift on the stern.


After the dive we sailed to Lulworth Cove for lunch.


Dive 2 – (drift dive) British Inventor

7176 ton British oil tanker sunk in 1940 by a mine. The bow is well dispersed whilst the aft section was salvaged and converted to a new ship. Little remains except for a few girders and plates.  Max depth 20 metres


Cylinders waiting to be taken to Portland

We returned to harbour at 2pm and left our kit onboard taking only clylinders to be filled at the hotel. Then it was a case of finding a pub to watch the England game.


Day Three.

Another early start and we departed for our next dive.

Dive 3 - Aeolian sky

The Sky as she is known locally is a very large wreck and although the subject of much salvage work is still very recognisable. Lying on her port side the stern and rear accommodation area are relatively intact and stand some 12M. There is much evidence of her cargo within the wreck and strewn across the seabed. This is a great dive especially for those new to wreck diving but strong tides and variable visibility make local knowledge essential for a good dive. Max depth 30M



Then it was back to Lulworth Cove for lunch.


View of Lulworth Cove

Dive 4 (drift) - Black Hawk (Bow)
The bow section of the Black Hawk was taken under tow to Worbarrow Bay and was landed on the beach. The bow was finally destroyed in 1967 by a deliberate explosion to make way for the Winfrith pipeline. The wreck but it is badly broken up and unrecognisable but makes a very scenic dive with an abundance of marine life. Max depth 15-20m
 
When we returned to Weymouth five of the group departed for home, as they had to work the next day. The six of us remaining arranged a dive the next day with Dive Dorset who runs dive boats from the quay outside the hotel.

That night we travelled to Portland Bill and once again found a pub before returning back to the hotel.

Day Four.

Still an early start but we only had to carry our kit 100 yards from the hotel to the quay where the “Top Gun” our boat for the day was waiting. We then sailed around the Bill to the wreck of the M2.


Portland Bill Lighthouse

Dive 4 - M2

The M2 is classified as a war grave due to the fact that she sank as the result of an accident in 1932 killing all the crew. This submarine was unique in that she carried a small aircraft in a hanger built on to the conning tower and it is thought that whilst practising emergency diving the hangar door was not properly closed, quickly flooding the ship and sending her to the bottom. She is an amazing dive virtually intact apart from the crane for aircraft recovery having been trawled off a few years ago and some clandestine salvage, which saw the removal of her propellers. Max depth 36M



We arrived back in Portland by 10am and quickly washed down our dive kit. Following a quick bite to eat and a shower we departed for home. A good time had by all.

Packing up ready to leave.