wreck

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UB-74 (Wreck)

Diving the UB-74 off Portland is a real treat, especially on a day with good visibility. It’s not just a pile of metal; this German U-boat, sunk in 1918, lies remarkably intact on a sandy seabed at 36 metres. We love dropping down and seeing the distinctive shape emerge, the conning tower still standing proud. You can fin along the deck, peering into what’s left of the hatches and torpedo tubes. It’s a proper piece of history down there. The wreck has become home to plenty of life. We've seen conger eels poking their heads out from every dark corner, and massive lobsters tucked into crevices. The plating is coated in anemones and dead man’s fingers, adding colour to the grey steel. Our favourite part is exploring the stern, where the prop shafts are still visible, often surrounded by schools of pouting. It’s an intermediate dive, really, because of the depth and the potential for current, but if you time it right, it’s a captivating dive that tells a story. Just remember your decent torch; it gets pretty dim down there.