Dive Site: Ailsa Craig

Location: 50 33'N 002 47'W Lyme Regis

Description: British steamship

Length: 56m x 8.5 m x3.5metres 601 tons

Depth: 33m -36metres

The Ailsa Craig was built in 1906 and spent most of her life carrying coal. On the 15th April 1918 she was on a run from Cardiff to Weymouth with a load of coal on board when she was attacked by the German submarine UB-80. The U-Boat sent a torpedo that struck home amidships and the Ailsa Craig sank quickly on the spot.

The wreck site has been partially salvaged and though she is now somewhat broken up there is still plenty of superstructure to explore. The bow section sits twisted to starboard but remains essentially upright extending at least 7 metres from the sea bed.

The boiler and engine are fairly much intact in the midships but much of the stern section is now badly damaged. There is plenty of life to see including large lobsters and crabs and the inevitable conger in the boilers. There was also a John Dory on the day I visited.

The bottom composition is fairly silty so you do need to take care with buoyancy. It is advisable to dive just before slack so that if you do kick anything up on the descent then at least the current will take it away.

I would certainly recommend the site and will be visiting again given the chance.