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HM SUBMARINE NO 1

We really love a wreck with a story, and HM Submarine No 1 certainly delivers. This isn’t some grand battleship, but a slice of naval history – the Royal Navy's very first submarine, lost in 1913 while under tow to the breakers. Dropping down to 59 metres, the visibility can be tricky here in the English Channel, often a milky green, so good lights are essential. But once you break through, the wreck emerges, surprisingly intact for its age. At just under 20 metres long, you can trace its full outline. We always try to imagine it in its original form, a pioneering machine. Now, it’s a living reef. Expect plenty of squat lobsters tucked into every crevice, big conger eels lurking in the deeper sections, and sometimes, the surprising flash of a John Dory against the hull. The currents can be serious, so this is definitely one for experienced technical divers. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide, aiming for the hour either side of high or low water to make the most of your bottom time exploring a truly unique piece of diving history.