Lyme Regis - 2006

Finally when everyone arrived it was about 11pm and soon everybody was in bed ready for the early start. (Boat leaves 7:15)

3rd June.

Dive 1 was the Pomeranian it was a 4,364 ton vessel which was owned by Canadian Pacific Ocean Services Ltd of Montréal. On a Journey from London to Newfoundland she was spotted and torpedoed on the 15th April 1918 by the ub77 .55 of her crew died, including her captain.

She lies in 35 meters of water, standing 7 meters proud of the sea bed. Her cargo was listed as carrying 16 divers’ helmets.

The journey was about 1½ hours to the dive site, the vis was about 5-6 meters and she is well broken up with lots of lobsters and congers with not too much fish life, twin sets were in first, followed by single tank setups.

As soon as everyone was up we stopped for lunch, hot dogs followed with apple pies.

Dive 2 back to Lyme bay to dive the baygitano. The wreck lies about 1½ miles off of Cobb harbour, the wreck is also known as the baggy, she was torpedoed where she sank on the 18th of March 1918. A large British steam driven collier of 3,073 tons, she lies at a depth of 20 meters and is well broken, mostly apart from the boilers.

The wreck was covered in large fish such as Pollock & bib etc there seemed to be walls of silver fish everywhere.

We were back at the harbour by 2.30pm a quick change of clothes and down the pub to watch the second half of England vs. Jamaica. The evening consisted of some light drinking and a nice meal at the harbour inn restaurant.

4th June.

Dive 1 Not such an early start as yesterday 8:15 this time .we could not believe our luck the sea was as flat as yesterday.

It was another 1 ½ hours to our first dive site HMS landrail    

In the 19th century, Tower Bridge was built, HMS landrail was one of the first ships to be given the privilege of passing through the bridge.

A lauforey class destroyer HMS landrail, launched 7th Feb. 1914. Served with the 3rd destroyer flotilla on completion and transferred to escort duties after 1917.The ship was damaged after colliding with HMS undaunting in August 1915.

HMS landrail was a torpedo gunboat and was sunk while on tow, after being used for target practice.

Another great dive vis a bit better today probably around 7-8 meters. Again wreck well broken but there are some sections still standing up to 5-6 meters off the sea bed.

After the baked beans & pasties for lunch, the next dive was the baygitano again, due to the very good dive we had yesterday. This time it seemed not as good as yesterday the vis was poor and there were not as many fish.

Back to harbour for 3 o’clock. A good time was had by everyone.

By: - Scott smith