Mulberry Divers

Local Dives

The Sussex coastline has relatively more modern wrecks than the rest of Britain's coastline due to the activities of German U-Boats in both World Wars and the fact that the Channel is narrow and one of the busiest shipping lanes. In addition there are a number of reefs with holes, crevices, canyons, boulders and cliffs. The reefs and wrecks attract prolific marine life including bib, pouting, wrasse, bass, blennies, lobsters, conger eels, crabs, shellfish, cuttlefish, rays and skate in addition to the profusion of soft corals and sponges including jewel and snake-locks anemonies and dead men's fingers. The cuttlefish who were the marine stars of the first series of Coast were filmed under the Selsey Lifeboat Station. Selsey therefore provides an ideal base for some of the best diving anywhere in the UK.

Selsey Lifeboat Station

Selsey has an active fishing fleet which moors in the area of the Lifeboat Station. The scraps thrown overboard assist in attracting the abundance of marine life which can be found in the area. There are a number of interesting objects around the current Lifeboat Station including remains of the old Lifeboat Station, a landing craft and a small reef. The area is teaming with shoals of breeding fish, bib, wrasse, gobies, shore, spider and hermit crabs, lobsters, cuttlefish, pipefish, small congers, oysters, mussels and anemones. Average depth 6m one of our many favourite dives as there is always something to see. Strong currents mean that it is best to dive at slack water (4 hours before and 3 hours after high water).

On 14th June 2008 the Tyne class All Weather Lifeboat was unable to respond to a Mayday call due to divers without SMBs being positioned directly in front of the launching ramp. Fortunately it turned out that the Mayday was for a yacht which had run aground and no lives were in immediate danger. This was a near miss on two counts; the first was that the launch was delayed and the second was that if it hadn’t been for the Lifeboat shore crew seeing the bubbles, the divers could have had a 25 tonne lifeboat coming down on top of them. Apart from preventing a launch by the lifeboat and endangering others, the worry is that divers without an SMB will not be seen and could be hit by a boat propeller. This includes the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat which could be launched at any time and local fishing boats. We have agreed that the following Emergency signal will be used if the RNLI shore crew need divers to surface so that the Lifeboat can launch.

THREE loud bangs on the station structure - gap - THREE loud bangs

If you dive near the fishing boats or the Lifeboat Station, then please:

use an SMB
avoid the area directly in front of the station ramp
come to the surface immediately if you hear the Emergency signal

Please note that the RNLI Lifeboat Station and the RNLI Lifeboat shop are unable to provide either surface cover for divers or look after car keys.

Far Mulberry

One of the many remains of the Mulberry Harbours which were constructed in this area. After more than 60 years under the water this is now a wonderful reef approximately 60ms longs by 17ms wide. The North end is the best preserved and is covered in white and orange dead men's fingers, various anemones and two patches of jewel anemones. As you tour round the reef you can expect to see schools of pouting, pollack, bass, wrasse, poor cod and bid. There is normally a large school of fish at the bottom of the shot waiting to greet you. You can also find conger eels, tompot blennies, gobies, crabs and lobsters in addition to seasonal visitors like the cuttlefish and lumpsuckers. Only 2.5 miles from East Beach with an average depth 10m. As the Mulberry is made of reinforced concrete which is decaying watch out for sharp spikes.

Nature Trial

Once you have explored the Far Mulberry you can follow the Nature trial out over the sandy bottom (look out for rays, lobsters, cuttlefish, dogfish and various anemones) to a World War II Landing Craft, then onto a Cuckoo (WWII Air/Sea Rescue Float) before returning to the Mulberry. Both the Landing Craft and the Cuckoo are home to a number of tompot blennies, gobies, lobsters and crabs. Occassionally you can find baby cuttlefish.

Mixon Hole

A wonderful gentle drift dive only 1 mile from the Lifeboat Station. Descend to the sea bed at 6ms then drop over the cliff to the bottom at 25ms. The fast currents in this area mean that there is little weed growth however there are numerous boulders of various sizes each with a lobster or crab fighting for space. You can also find cuttlefish, dogfish and wrasse in this area. Ascend slowly back to the seabed at 6ms to find a wide range of marine life. Due to the currents the Mixon can only be dived on neaps at slack water.

Briggita (Teapot)

A steel, screwed steamer schooner which sunk after striking a mine in December 1917 whilst on passage from Barry to Dieppe with a cargo of coal. The wreck is just over 5 miles offshore and is well broken amidships with the stern upside down and the two boilers remaining the highest point. This wreck is now the home to a number of congers, plus blennies, gobies, wrasse, lobsters, crabs and schooling fish. Depth 16ms.

Patch Landing Craft

Another casualty of WWII which lies upside down and broken into three sections about 5 miles from East Beach. The hull stands proud of the sand and shingle seabed which is at 18ms. The wreck has a number of holes and is home to a wide variety of marine life.

Gascony

The Gascony sank in January 1918 as a result of striking a mine whilst in transit from Southampton to Calais carrying a load of guns, hay and charcoal. Average depth is 30ms and the wreck stands some 3ms proud of the sea bed. Although the Gascony originally sank upside down the wreck is now breaking up with so that her bow nearly upright. Home to a wide variety of marine life including congers, lobsters and crabs.

Pine

An armoured trawler which sank after being struck by a torpedeo in January 1944. The wreck is now well broken up in less than 10ms of water.

Menelaos

A Greek steamer which sank in stormy seas on the west side of the Shoal of Lead in November 1930. The wreck is well broken up and lies close to the Elbow with its strong tidal currents.

Sapper

HMS Sapper was an armoured trawler which sunk on 29th December 1917. The wreck is in three pieces and is well broken up. The highest point is the boiler which is home to numerous congers and tompot blennies. The wreck is home to a number of of schooling fish and is 8 miles from East Beach in 28ms of water.

Shirala

A 5,000 ton liner on route to India carrying a cargo of ivory, cases of wine, marmelade in stone jars, spares for lorries and Model T type cars plus munitions for the Indian Army which sank in July 1918 after being struck by a torpedeo. The wreck is only 8 miles from East Beach in 24ms of water. The wreck is well broken up however the constantly shifting seabed means that there is always something new to find each year. The wreck is home to a wide variety of marine life and schooling fish.

HMS Northcoates

A royal navy trawler requisitioned for mine sweeping during WWII which sank in December 1944. The wreck sits upright at 26ms about 9 miles from East Beach. There is a 12 pounder gun on her foredeck. This wreck is often difficult to see due to the number of schooling fish. There are also a large number of congers tucked into holes in addition to lobsters and crabs