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Dover, Wrecks and Sites
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Local Area
Anglia
Probably one of the most popular dives in the area this small liner and WW1 hospital ship built in 1900 lies upright in less than 30m with the top of the wreck typically being 25m
Pomerania
Another liner this time built in 1873 this steam and sail liner now lies in about 25m with parts of the wreck 6m proud. When the liner sank she was on the New York to Hamburg run and had just made a stop in England to drop off passengers and cargo
Both American silver trade dollars and even gold 20 and 50 mark pieces have been recovered along with ships crockery and many many parts for clocks
St Celia
A superb dive which often has exceptional visibility this 4411 steamer and WW1 mine victim is like an underwater adventure playground with many swim thoughs and easy access to the engine room again all in 25-30m
Unknown (Dive Kent 43)
This as yet unknown sitting in 38m is bolt upright and intact apart from the split just astern of the engine room which looks like she was sunk by collision or possibly a mine
Loanda
This is probably the most dived wreck from Dover and lies in only 18-20m. This ship was carrying general cargo when she was sunk in 1908 by the Junona
The cargo of gin and wine bottles is extensive and other finds have included perfume bottles (still with the contents intact), clay pipes of all types, plates, beads, lead pencils and slates.
This one is often used as a 2nd dive or one for poor weather, though if you’ve never dived in the area make sure you get to do this one
Toward
A general cargo merchant steamer sunk in WW1 by UC-6 she sits in 25m and is upright with the upper structure in about 20m., a very ‘ship shape’ wreck
East Of the Goodwins
The area between the Goodwin sands and the shipping lane provides some superb wrecks in the 45-55m range and unless there is a plankton bloom very good visibility
3 Master
This 3 masted stream and sail schooner lies in about 45m and is one of my absolute favourites, the marine life is extensive and the wreck mainly intact with the bows broken away
Despite a number of dives and some recoveries we still haven’t managed to name her
‘H4’
This large ship probably of WW2 vintage lies in 45-50m with one side sticking up to 38m though very heavily damaged she is a real mystery and hopefully further dives will give up more clues to her identity
Unknown (Dive Kent 248)
A large steamer on a hard chalk seabed in 42m, due to the tidal flow in the areas there is very little silting but its recommended that this one is done on a neap tide to maximise the slack water
HMS Hermes
The worlds other divable aircraft carrier not to be confused with the HMS Hermes off Sri Lanka!
She started life in 1898 as a 350 foot long Armoured Cruiser before being converted as a seaplane carrier
Though this wreck lies off Calais its reachable from Dover and is of great historic significance being England’s first aircraft carrier as well as being an early victim of the WW1 German U-boats
She lies on her port side in 33m and is best explored using a Nitrox mix due to her size and overall interest. There is a 4” gun turret towards the bow
There is also a small unknown wreck very close to her though we’ve not yet dived it to see if its related to the Hermes or not