ARTHURTOWN

Built in 1936 by NV Scheepsbouwwerf Gebr. van der Werf in the Netherlands, the MV Arthurtown was a small but sturdy coastal motor vessel. With a single oil engine, she spent her early years plying the trade routes around the British Isles. At the outbreak of World War II, like many merchant ships, she was pressed into service to support the war effort, transporting essential goods and materials through waters that were becoming increasingly dangerous.

Her final voyage began in August 1944, just two months after the D-Day landings. The Arthurtown was en route from Southampton when she was attacked by German aircraft off Start Point, Devon. On August 7th, bombs struck the vessel, and she sank quickly. The attack was swift and devastating, claiming the life of one of her crew members. Her loss was a stark reminder of the perils faced by the merchant navy, even in the final stages of the war in Europe.

Today, the wreck of the Arthurtown rests in just 15 metres of water, making it a fantastic and accessible dive for all levels of certified divers. Lying on a sandy seabed, the wreck is well broken up after decades beneath the waves, but her general shape is still discernible. The wreckage has become a thriving artificial reef, providing a home for a dense covering of anemones, hydroids, and dead man's fingers. Divers can expect to be greeted by shoals of pollack and bib, while large conger eels peer out from the twisted metal and colourful cuckoo wrasse dart among the plates.