Diving into History

Launched by English Heritage and the Nautical Archaeology Society, the HMS/mA1 submarine dive trial is the fourth underwater tourist trail for protected wrecks to open since 2009 and is part of an English Heritage project to create up to a dozen trails by 2018 for historic wreck sites dating from the 17th to the mid-20th centuries.

The trails that are already running are three sunken wooden warships and have attracted hundreds of licensed divers. They are:

• HMS Colossus, a 74-gun warship built in 1787 which sank off the Isles of Scilly in 1798;
• the Coronation built in 1685 and lost off the coast of Plymouth in 1691;
• and the 'Norman's Bay Wreck', possibly a Dutch ship which sank during the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 near Bexhill on Sea in Sussex.

Built in July 1902 by Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd, the HMS/mA1 submarine was actually sunk twice, first in 1904 and again in 1911 while unmanned and being used for underwater target practice using an automatic pilot. It was designated in 1998 under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973).

Licensed divers on the new trail will be able to see a complete submarine resting upright on the seabed with the bow clearly visible. Divers will be given an underwater guide to help them navigate the wreck and recognise key features such as the conning tower, torpedo loading hatch, and the stern towing and lifting cable.

Terry Newman, Assistant Maritime Designation Adviser for English Heritage, said: "We are diving into history with the launch of our first submarine trail. Protected wreck sites are as much part of our national heritage as castles and country houses, although they are not as widely accessible unfortunately! By giving licensed divers access to these historically and archaeologically important wrecks, we are encouraging greater understanding and recognition of England's underwater heritage."

Mark Beattie-Edwards, Programme Director, Nautical Archaeology Society said: "This is the second trail that we have designed for accessing protected shipwrecks. We are sure that the visiting divers will be amazed at the condition of HMS/mA1 which despite having spent over 100 years on the seabed is still to a great degree intact. It is our hope that visitors will be inspired to help us to protect other examples of our maritime history that now lie on the seabed."

Divers wishing to dive the trail must be licensed to access it. Access is being managed by the Nautical Archaeology Society and the wreck's licensee, Martin Davies. Licenses are issued by English Heritage. A fifth dive trail is due to open in June for the paddle steamer Iona II which sank off Lundy Island en route to the Bahamas in February 1864.