BYMS 22 wreck

The wreck near Marseille known as BYMS 22 belongs to a historic and fascinating class of World War II vessels: the British Yard Minesweeper. These sturdy ships were built in the United States under the Lend-Lease program and transferred to the UK's Royal Navy to perform the perilous task of clearing naval mines from vital shipping lanes. With wooden hulls and mostly non-ferrous fittings to avoid triggering magnetic mines, they were crucial to the Allied war effort. The most famous ship of this class, BYMS-26, would later be converted into the RV Calypso, the iconic research vessel of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Diving the BYMS 22 is like descending onto a piece of world history. As a minesweeper, the vessel was not heavily armed, but divers can still identify key features of its unique design. The wooden hull has likely deteriorated over the decades, but its steel framework, engine, and other machinery provide a fascinating structure to explore. Located in the rich waters of the Calanques National Park, the wreck is now a bustling artificial reef, attracting a dense population of fish, moray eels, and crustaceans that have taken up residence in this forgotten hero of the sea.