Orpington British Sub-Aqua Club
Here is a list of dive sites along the South coast of England. They have been taken from various sources and have not been verified as accurate so take care when using them. Please contact us at the club if you can update any of the following information.
Boat Dives
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | Unknown | N/A | Directly off Bognor from Butlin's, going East approx. 2 miles out. They are easy to find, Just motor out until you come across the Lines of Lobster Pots. Seabed varies from sand and shells to weed covered rocks. Aquatic life: Wrasse, Lobster, Crab, Dogfish, Cuttle, sometimes Lump fish. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50 44.88N : 00 37.75W and 50 45.45N : 00 38.92W |
1 ½ hours before HW Dover 4 ½ hours after HW Dover |
The sites are off Bognor approx. 4 miles out. It is possible to dive at any state of the tide as this sites makes a good drift dive. The area is an extension to Bognor Rocks and extends over approx 1 square mile. The co-ordinates identify the highest point on each of the rock groups with a number of individual rocks standing over 3 metres high. Many Wrasse, Lobster and Crab inhabit the area. Keep your eyes out for Dog fish and Flat fish (i.e. Plaice) lying on the sand between the rocks. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 50 45.94N : 00 37.01W | N/A | The area is very shallow in places and is covered in a lot of String weed. It can be very interesting to get right inside the weed to the sea bed where you will find many small holes containing life in the form of Anenome, Crab, Gobie, Nudibranch, Starfish etc... The Rocks themselves are quite large with a number of interesting gullies to swim along where you may find Lobster. This is a very good first dive to introduce you to the sea and Drifting. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1015 | 50 43.95N : 00 24.84W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is directly off ferring beach approx 6 miles out. This site is a chalk wall running east to west approx 1/2 mile long facing North. The wall varies between 1 to 3 mtrs high with lots of holes for Crab to hide in. The wall also seems to provide a nursery for smaller fish although, you will see some quite large wrasse at times. You can dive this site at most times of the tide as the wall provides shelter from the tidal stream. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50 44.15N : 00 34.86W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is approximately 6 miles SSW of Littlehampton Harbour The site is made up of a narrow group of rocks running from East to West for appox. half a mile. The rocks can be quite high in places i.e. 3 mtrs. The site has a much larger concentration of marine life, than other rock groups in the area i.e shoals of Bib and Whiting are common. There are a good number of large Wrasse of different variety |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 728 | By the pole! | 2 hours before LW Dover on a neap tide is best. | This site is SW of Littlehampton and directly off Selsey Bill approx. 1.5 miles
out. This dive is said to be either an old river estuary or an old Roman quarry, now claimed by the sea. It is thought that the Romans had a stone throwing catapault at the top of the hole (when it used to be on land), as there are a number of round stone projectiles scattered around the bottom of the hole. The north wall into the hole is vertical, from 7 mtrs to approx 22 mtrs and is made of Chalk. This wall has many small holes in it which can house both lobster and crab. When swimming east out of the hole the wall disappears and you can find many large Spider crabs walking around. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 50 44.70N : 00 42.12W | 2 hours before HW Dover 4 hours after HW Dover |
Just off Pagham Harbour approx. 3 miles out. It is possible to dive at any state of the tide. However, midway between High and Low water on Spring tides, you will need to be prepared to pull yourself down the shot line until you are in the shelter of the wreck. The wreck is the remains of a floating harbour pontoon, built to support the Normandy landings on D-Day. The pontoon is now very broken up with lots of interesting holes for a very wide variety of marine life to hide in. The wreck is surrounded by a very large shoal of bib and whiting, look closely into the many holes and you should be able to find lobster, crab and conger eel. bass, pouting, pollock. brill and turbot, home of mussels and deadmens fingers. This all adds to the fun of the dive. the southern end is covered in weed. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 50 35.00N : 00 41. 00W or 50 35.599N : 00 38.180W |
Unknown | 3220-ton steamer, built 1895, 338ft x 44ft. Triple expansion engines, armed. Cargo: Artillery ammunition. Sits upright, bow section has parted from hull and is listing45 degree's to port, two decks have collapsed, stern stands 7m proud with gun pointing aft, engine is exposed. Some shells remain despite salvage of cargo. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50-58 | 50 29.50N : 00 26.30W | Unknown | Lots of broken glass and china. Upright and intact. Sank in 1889 |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 50 46.11N : 00 28.80W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is directly off Angmering beach approx.3 miles out This site is a wreck of a Norwegian steamer built in 1917 and sunk in 1943, with 6 crew, after hitting a German parachute mine. The wreck is now very broken up and spread out with a few rib structures still pointing skyward. A number of wrasse now inhabit the area. The fun of diving this dive is actually finding it. If found, it makes either a very good 1st dive or a second dive after a deep one. Be prepared to do a drift dive following exploration of the site and during the drift keep your eyes out for Flatfish (primarily Plaice and possibly Dover sole). |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 39.46N : 00 39.66W | 1.5 hours before HW Portsmouth 1 hour before LW Portsmouth |
WWII Liberty ship Bow almost upright, stern, keel up. Gun carriages in open holds. The Gascony was torpedoed in 1918. The nearly intact wreckage now lies almost upside down, with the port side more exposed. Getting your bearings can be difficult on this wreck, so using a compass might help. Head northwest to the port side so that you are not stuck looking at the ships hull. The propeller has been salvaged, but the rudder lies on the seabed. A little penetration is possible, but many of the holes are too small to get through. The wheel shaped cargo of gun carriages can be seen along with the ships four boilers and the engine room. The anchor winch and chains can also be identified. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 40.50N : 00 33.86W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is directly off Littlehampton approx. 8.5 miles out This ship is the wreck of an Armed Steamer and was sunk on August 8 1918, by a U-Boat torpedo, with 1 crew member lost. The wreck site is now very flat with the ships hull being effectivly opened up and flattened on the sand. It is easy to swim along the ships ribbing until you find the the 2 Boilers standing approx. 4 mtrs high. Living between the boilers was an extremely large congor eel, hopefully our fishermen friends have not caught it yet. There are some large fish (pollock and/or wrasse) swimming around, but no large shoals. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-32 | 50 39.723N : 00 35.401W | 6 hours after after HW Littlehampton | Lying upright condition intact. Royal Navy trawler converted to a mine sweeper in 1939 12 inch gun mounted on her foredeck + twin 0.5 inch machine guns mounted on the port side near the stern |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 50 43.09N - 00 37.16W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is directly off Bognor approx. 5 miles out. This is a wreck of a tree class admiralty trawler and was sunk by a Torpedo from one of a pack of 18 German E-Boats on January 31, 1940, with the loss of 10 crew. The wreck is very broken up and is surrounded by sand. Many parts are still above the sand, even a big chunk of one of the engines is clearly visible. The site is covered in shoals of Bib and Whiting both large and small fish. This is a good rummage dive however, there is very little shelter from the tides when they start to run. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 34.58N : 00 55.87W | 2938-ton Belgian steamer, built 1930 converted to infantry landing ship 1941.
347ft x 46ft. Armed. Isle of White to Normandy. Sunk: 29 July 1944.
Torpedo from German U Boat, striking portside, midships. Despite capsizing on sinking the wreck is now upright, very twisted with a starboard list on gravel seabed bow lists more to the stern, which has 30 degree lean. Holed on the port side by torpedo. High point is the Bofors gun, 10m proud. Superstructure swept away. Beware depth charges on racks at stern. Take care on an entry into wreck, metal deteriorating fast. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 50 37.336 N : 00 41.240 W | 12 miles from Littlehampton. Armed Trawler, sunk 1917.Rises about 6 metres from the sea bed. A lovely wreck, not very big, shes well broken up, as with most WWI wrecks, all that time down on the seabed takes it toll, but still boat shaped.Sank on 29th December 1917, cause of sinking unknown. She lies east to west, Bows to the west, the stern is at an odd angle to the rest of her, the prop is iron, boilers are proud and full of Conger Eels. All the crew were lost and went down with her, she lies in approximately 30 meters of water, the fish life on this wreck is stunning, and the viability generally is good. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-11 | 50 47.03N : 00 22.12W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This wreck site is directly off Worthing Pier approx.1 mile out This is a wreck of a British steamer an a return journey fron Sicily, carrying a cargo of oranges and lemons. She sunk following a collision with a German steamer (approx. 7 miles out of Selsey) called the Washington, which was on her way to New York. The wreck is very broken up and the ships plates have now been flattened by the tides and waves. The site is home to a large shoal of Bib and Whiting and is known to house a number of Congor eels as well as lobster although, to find them you need to look under the various plates. The wreck is not easy to find, because of it's flattened state but, if found, it can provide a good, safe and fun dive. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-47 | 50 23.15N : 00 29.18W | 24 miles south Littlehampton. P&O troop ship. 1 ½ hour RIB ride, well worth the journey, she lies on he port side, her stern is most intact rising to 30m. Visability is often very good, stern has two rows of intact portholes 6 ft apart, can be inspected from inside as well. Six inch guns on the vertical deck point to the surface. Middle collapsed, bow in poor state, lots of debris worth a rummage. Live shells and empty cases lying about. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-30 | 50 40.01N : 00 23.33W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is SE off Littlehampton approx. 11 miles out. This ship is the wreck of a small British merchantman and was sunk on November 28th 1916, following capture by a U-Boat and then having holes being blown through the ships bottom, no crew were lost. The wreck is lying on her starboard side and is quite broken up. There are some large ship shape pieces still standing, making a very interesting dive. This site has good numbers of very large Pollock in residence and if you look carefully you should be able to find lobster and crab. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 50 38.03N : 00 18.43W | 924 ton British Iron Steamer,two cylinder engine, also rigged for sail, built
1870. 224ft x 28ft. Sunk on 27 August 1886, collision in fog with French
steamer San Martin, Depth 42m. Upright with bow broken off and lying port side to west, Engine clear. Many wooden deadeyes,jars of potted meat (contents stink) and much broken glass near bow. Some intact victorian light glasses, wine glasses and water jugs to be found, Bell was recovered. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-30 | 50 40.95N : 00 35.20W | 1 hour before HW Dover 6 hours after HW Dover |
This site is directly off Littlehampton approx. 8.5 miles out This ship is a wreck of a small liner/cargo vessel launched in 1901. She was sunk by the German U-Boat UB-57 on July 2 1918, with 8 men killed. She is quite a well dived wreck and relatively easy to find. She is now well broken up with her bow section being the largest part standing approx. 4 mtrs high. The sand has covered other areas of the wreck but there are still quite large sections still to explore. Keep your eyes out for congor and lobster under the plates and in the holes also look closely in the sand among the plates and you may find old bottles as well as a few shell detonation caps (Brass, triangular and approx 3" high). |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50 39.42N : 01 53.37W | WW11 casualty, Prototype tanks vertions of Sherman Tanks used during "D" day,
the had canvas screens which alowed them to float, fitted with
propellers (Duplex Drive ) for propulsion, a number were lost during
experiments, seven are known about. There are two at this position. Also
has its resident Conger and Lobster, shoals of Bib. Complete with tracks, turret and flame-thrower. The two Tanks were linked with a line. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Cargo Freighter. Lying upwright, engine room quite intact. resident conger eels. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 50 37.38N : 00 36.50W | 8184 ton British steamer. Fortunately the crew were saved from this First World War torpedo casualty before it sank. The wreck now lies upright on the sea floor with the bow facing northwest. The engine room is easy to locate and there are three prominent boilers. The wreck is quite flattened from the stern to its middle, but the masts are still upright. This is an interesting wreck to dive. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22-30 | 25 miles out. The wreck is completely upside down, there are some openings that you can enter through though it is quite silty. There are some of the biggest congers I have ever seen on this wreck with heads the same size as a labradors! Also this wreck can be quite dark. | ||
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Shore Dives
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selsey East Beach (shore dive) | Just West of the lifeboat walkway, although well broken up the site stills remains home to a variety of marine life including small congers. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selsey East Beach (shore dive) | 3 hours after HW | Just south west of the Lifeboat house, a breeding ground for lobster and always
covered in fish. Note: Surface Marker Buoys should always be used in this area and always avoid swimming past the end of the slip. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selsey East Beach (shore dive) | 3 hours after HW | Just south west of the Lifeboat house, a breeding ground for lobster and always
covered in fish. Note: Surface Marker Buoys should always be used in this area and always avoid swimming past the end of the slip. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 5 miles out. A very popular dive site and easy to find, her bow is upright and stern upside down, plenty of easy wreck penetration and always covered in marine life. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 4 ½ hours after HW | A second world war casualty, lying upside down and broken into 3 sections. |
| Depth (m) | GPS | Slack water | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 10 miles out. Sank in 1974, a complete wreck laying on her port side, easy wreck penetration into the accommodation area. |