wreck

Log This Dive

HMSM K17

The K17 is not a dive for the faint of heart, but for those who know their way around a drysuit in colder water, it’s a proper dive into history. Lying at 49 metres, this WWI submarine has a palpable sense of tragedy about her, sunk during the ‘Battle of May Island’ in 1918 after a collision with HMS Fearless. We’ve always been drawn to wrecks that tell a story, and the K17 absolutely delivers. You’ll find her upright, remarkably intact for her age and depth, with the bow section bearing the scars of that fateful night. Penetration is for the experienced and suitably equipped, but there’s plenty to explore on the exterior. The conning tower is still prominent, and you can trace the length of her deck, often finding lumpsuckers clinging to the metalwork or a curious wolf fish peering from a porthole. We love seeing how the wreck has become a home, with plumose anemones carpeting sections and shoals of coalfish darting through the superstructure. Visibility can be a bit variable, but on a good day, the sheer scale of this submarine is impressive. Definitely bring your twinset and a good torch; it’s a dark dive, but utterly rewarding.