Dive Sites

Littlehampton
The Mulberry Harbours

The outer Mulberry wreck is in fact one of the Phoenix portable harbour constructions that was to be towed to France for the D-Day landings. It was to act as support and supplies for the allied troops as they pushed into German occupied France. The idea was to sink them in key locations and resurrect for forthcoming action. The A1 Phoenix design was 204 feet in length, 62 feet wide and 60 feet high. Although unclear as to the cause, the Mulberry was left behind because she broke her back. It was then used as a bombing target by the RAF in 1945, so although she is very broken up, she can still be a threat to large boats.

The Mulberry is one of the best shallow dives in Sussex for fish life. Big shoals of Pouting and Pollack surround it and bass, cuckoo, cod and wrasse hunt around the wreckage. The top is heavily weeded and the broken internal walls and hull provide hiding places for crabs, lobsters and conger eels. We also see cuttlefish and rays around her on many occasions. The northern end or stern is the best preserved, with a huge wall of white and orange dead men s fingers and starfish eating mussels on the seabed. Bib and Pouting congregate here. At the southern end, much of the concrete wall has completely collapsed and large schools of Pollack are frequently found here. The western wall allows access to some of the broken compartments (be careful of the tangle of steel rods which penetrate wet and dry suits!).

The Mulberry is in a depth of 10-15 metres, depending on tide state, and sits on flat sand and shingle. She is buoyed and this can be used as a descent/ascent line. At the bottom of this line are two ropes. One going to the Landing Craft and the other to the Cuckoo, which are approx 8-10 minute swim from the Mulberry.





The Landing Craft
This is an intact LCM Mark 1 and is 100 foot x 10 foot beam. The engines and propellers are missing, but the landing ramp at the bow is in position and the hinges are still clear.



The Cuckoo
This is a British air-sea rescue float. These were moored along the English coast and were used to assist pilots and crews of damaged and ditched aircraft. The inside cabins would have had radio to contact shore, food and drinking water, stoves, sleeping bags and provisions for 6 men.


Portland
Countess of Erne 7 to 14m. This passenger liner paddle steamer was later converted to a coal hulk but in 1935 broke loose from her moorings and sank against the breakwater. She was built in the early 1880s and the conversion took place 1889. She is approximately 240' long and with a 29' beam she lies upright on the bottom making an excellent dive for novice and experienced alike. The Countess has three holds that are open on either side, a number of attractions from a large rudder to ladders and even a toilet bowl! The Red Band Fish and Lumpsuckers that visit the Countess seasonally are occasionally even joined by seals.

Dredger 12m. The Dredger lies right outside of Portland Harbour within the shelter of Balaclava bay, right in front of the large winch and many anchors that can be spotted from see. This vessel was a sand dredger and makes an excellent dive both for training and as a naturalist trail beside the rocks it rests against. The wreckage itself is pretty much broken up and is in two parts but offers good swim throughs and plenty of fish, squid as well as the dozens of hermit and spider crabs.

Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit 17m. Both of these wrecks lie in very close proximity and make an excellent double-wreck dive by starting off at the Landing Craft, following a line laid to the Bombardon Unit and returning back to entry point. The small landing craft lies beside the Breakwater wall and is almost completely intact with its landing doors closed. It is an interesting dive that leads to the wheel house and exposed engine at the stern. (Beware there are line and cord in the engine section which should not be penetrated). From there you can either follow the line or the breakwater wall (keeping at your left) to the Bombardon Unit. This is a WWII experimental wave breaking unit apparently made for the D-Day landings and is a vessel made out of star shaped barges with lots of hatches. Be careful in poor visibility as it is easy to find oneself in the wreck without even knowing it! It makes a powerful dive in good visibility and is full of fish.

Enecuri (The Spaniard) 16m. This 3000 ton Spanish steamship dragged her anchor in a Force 9 gale in December 1900 and was grounded on the rocks close to the Breakwater where she slipped and eventually sank. It is badly silted and fairly broken up but is full of marine life and swim throughs with part of the vessel still intact, making it an excellent second dive of the day. It is also very accommodating to recreational and technical courses.