WreckMap Portsland Dive Schedule (Subject to Change)

Sunday 18th May 2003
PM: Meet up at accommodation in Weymouth for briefing, sort out dive kit.

Monday 19th May 2003 - HW 9.48 / LW 17.14
Countess of Erne: (13 metres) Site adopted by Scubaplus (Bracknell). Paddle steamer built in early 1880's. Converted into to a coal hulk in 1889 working in Portland Harbour. Sank after breaking her moorings on 16th September 1935.

Early AM: Set up sonar equipment
AM: 1st dive at HW - min depth 7m - max depth 15m. Recording site by using DWAP Diver Recording Slates and participants own camera equipment. NAS staff video/camera.

PM: 2nd dive at LW - Continuation from am dive. Sonar sweep during lunch break.
Evening: NAS Part 3 Underwater Photography (using Sea & Sea Camera system).

Tuesday 20th May 2003 - LW 6.41 / HW 10.36 / LW 18.00
Royal Adelaide: (Shallow) On the 23rd November 1872 this 235 feet iron built emigrant clipper was wrecked on Chesil and looted by the locals. Built by William Patterson in 1865 much of her foredeck remains including the winch, but structure is rapidly eroding. (Alternative site if blown out - The Spaniard or the Himalaya).

AM: 1ST dive at HW -Use of DWAP Diver Recording Slates, camera and video for recording site.
PM: 2nd dive at LW - Continuation from am dive.
Evening: Talk by Ed Cummings on the Earl of Abergavvenny.

Wednesday 21st May 2003 -LW 6.27 / HW 11.26 / LW 18.49
Earl of Abergavenny: (15 metres) This English East Indiaman hit Shambles Bank on the 5th February 1805. Sank with a large loss of life including the captain John Wordsworth. This site is being surveyed and excavated by Ed Cummings and his team. (Alternative site if blown out - The Spaniard or the Himalaya).

AM: 1st dive at HW - Guided tour of site by Ed Cummings. Use of DWAP Diver Recording Slates, camera and video for recording site.
PM: Sonar sweep & 2nd dive at LW - Continuation from am dive.
Evening: Lecture at Brewers Quay (open to the public) by Gordon LePard, Dorset archaeologist on Maritime Archaeology of Dorset and Peter Tinsley (Dorset Wildlife Trust) on Marine Life of Portland.

Thursday 22nd May 2003 - LW 7.19 / HW 12.23 / LW 19.47
HMS Hood: (18 metres) Royal Sovereign class battleship, launched at Chatham in 1891. Sunk at Portland on the 4th Nov 1914 in an attempt to protect the harbour from submarine attack during WWI. Best dived 3 hours before HW to 1 hour after HW.

10am: 1st dive at HW - Use of DWAP Diver Recording Slates, camera and video.
2pm: 2nd dive at LW - The Spaniard, inside harbour near to breakwater or the Himalaya in the middle of the harbour.
Evening: Talk by Innes McCartney on The Submarine Wrecks of Portland & Weymouth.

Friday 23rd May 2003 - LW 8.22 / HW 13.30
HMS M2: (29-35 metres) An aircraft-carrying submarine that was lost in January 1932. She was built in 1918 as a K boat and was converted to carry a plane in 1927. Use of DWAP Diver Recording Slates, camera and video. Chance to dive the site with Innes McCartney.

AM: ONLY DIVE at LW - Use of DWAP Diver Recording Slates, camera and video. Guided dive with Innes McCartney.
PM: Sonar sweep of wreck site
LATE PM - De-kit and De-camp