Your best wreck!

[Ned Middleton]

Hello – it’s me again.

Having finally found the time to study the content of this website - especially the “Wrecks” forum, not only do I like what I see but I also like the banter. An altogether excellent website.

Having mentioned elsewhere how I have just spent 8½ years on one book project, I have also been to other places during that time and work is well advanced on another book which will contain details of the world’s best 20 shipwrecks – as visited by Divers. Some are relatively shallow, some are deep – but all are visited by ordinary scuba/technical divers.

It was suggested I could find all 20 of these wrecks in either the Red Sea or Truk Lagoon, so I set a criteria which each vessel must meet in order to be considered for inclusion. Basically, my self-imposed rules are:

1. No country will be represented by more than one wreck – although I am using a little poetic license with regard to the UK.

2. Each wreck must be fairly intact – no debris fields.

3. I shall not include anything that was artificially sunk because:

4. Each wreck must have it’s own story to tell.

As far as that poetic license is concerned, the wrecks will be set out like a journey around the world – commencing in Scotland and ending somewhere else in British waters.

Scotland is already finished. What I don’t have is a final contender to represent British/Irish waters - excluding Scotland.

1. What wreck should I end the book with? Lusitania?

I look forward to your replies.

Ned

[Bogwoppit]

Hey Ned, Neat idea for me my favourite wrecks are the Shirala (Shallow) and Salsette (Deepish). I suggest you get a list of wrecks then run a pole. The winner enters your book. I think you hit the nail on the head with your criteria, A wreck has to have history and a story lets face it the Stangarth is probably one of the most visited Wrecks in the UK but most of us could give a Monkeys about it. Viz is also a must you might have a cracking wreck but crap viz most of the time which spoils a wreck. not sure about he Luisitania, surely it make More sense to write about a wreck that most of us either could or would visit. not one that most of us will never get to see.

[Crisspy Fiver]

Hi Ned.

Shirala is a good wreck but a little to broken I feel to be included in your book. Sorry Bogwoppit.

Now the reason I say this is I loved this wreck and though all wrecks looked something like this. Most of the ones I dived did indeed seem to look like the Shirala. A mess of metal all over the place and mostly buried in the sand.

Then I was lucky enough to dive what I now consider one of my best wrecks. The Prince Leopold. Oh man was that a good dive at the Selsey gig. I still go on and on about it to the people I normally dive with who were not at the gig.

Almost upright. Depth chargers at the back. Wooden decking. Guns. This wreck was massive. Im trying so hard to get back and do it again but as yet havnt had the chance. So I think and feel that the wreck should be something like this. In very good condition for age. Almost upright and have plenty of exciting features. Also in about 35 meters of water. It would be nice for the people just starting out in diving to actually think one day they may get to dive the wreck. We would all like to dive to a 100 + meters but in reality doubt many of us will.

Feel like im going on a bit now sorry!. Just before I go back to quiet room one last thought. We have some excellent subs around the coast of the UK. So what about one if these?

Just my thoughts.

Jamie

[DAFFY]

Surely JEL must be a contender.......no wait hms Sapper (a wonderful dive) or Northcoate. To many wrecks/ great dives to choose from. This is akin to being asked to choose your favorite song

[Ned Middleton]

Wow, 3 replies in the time it has taken me to feed 2 baby Eagle Owls (and I thought I was too old to start again!) and make a pot of tea (Yorkshire tea of course).

Thanks for being so positive. All points are being seriously considered.

Yes, I do want to include a Submarine. HMS Stubborn was a front runner until I discovered the existence of the Polynésien - so not sure which one will be Malta's contribution right now.

If it's to be a sub, what about the "M" series? Big gun or aircraft hangar?

JEL is certainly on the short-list - not because she is a popular dive but, as a Liberty ship, she represents something very special. Did you know that one Liberty ship was built in just 4 days! Without them, this country would have succumbed…

I really like the sound of the Prince Leopold - need to learn more. (People call me a shipwreck expert, but I only know details of those ships I have actually studied - makes sense when you think about it).

Yes, perhaps it should be one we are "ALL" able to visit and, therefore, found at a moderate depth.

If I go quiet now, it will be because I shall be looking up the stories behind each of your nominated wrecks. There cannot be too many contenders - but if it came down to a tie then the story of her loss could be decisive.

Ned

[Lazlo]

Wasn't the Stubborn artificially sunk? Still got a good history and is a cracking dive.

Here's hoping that conditions will be right for the Polynesia in a couple of weeks time.....

:fingers crossed:

[abucksdiver]

I have fairly limited experience of wreck diving, but I must second Jamies (Crisspy Fivers) comments about the HMS Prince Leopold... (OK, as I buddied him on that dive, I know exactly where he was coming from!)

A cracking dive, and a very interesting wreck.

Ned, one of the divers on that trip (MattS, if I remember correctly) put together a DVD of the dive, so if you wanted a quick "overview" of the wreck, you could try getting a copy...

Regards
Andrew

[tom]

Originally Posted by Ned Middleton

If it's to be a sub, what about the "M" series? Big gun or aircraft hangar?

There are lots of books covering the M2. For a diveable sub in UK waters, what about the U90? There are some posts on here with more information and superb pictures.

[Mark Chase]

The Duke of Buckleugh (sp) Out of Littlehampton


58m, generaly excelent viz, great penitration, prop still on, controversial sinking and the evidance to prove the case is there for even novice wreck dectectives to see. Upright, ship shaped covered in life and of course ALLLLL THAT CHINA & GLASS

Got to be in the running. If it were shallower it would top the Solsett an any list.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Rod]

No it just has to be the M2.

I think a poll could be a good idea.