Sussexshipwrecks

Sat 30 May 2026 ropes off 09:30 Duchess 22m plus Drift 4 spaces left for this popular trainee wreck dive.

The Dutchess SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 586 tons built in 1899 by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Yard No 83 for John Hay of Glasgow.
HMS Cossack collision with Duchess 1st July 1917, 3 miles off the Royal Sovereign light vessel
When war broke out, the Government requisitioned hundreds of merchant ships, which became known as the "transports", and they spent the next four years conveying government supplies over to the French channel ports.
At 09.08pm on 30th June 1917, the Duchess slipped out of Newhaven Harbour and assembled off the breakwater with 27 other ships. These comprised of Transports, Torpedo Boats, Mine-Sweepers and other es**rts vessels. Later in the evening they set off along the coast towards Dungeness.
On 1 July 1917, Cossack collided with the transport SS The Duchess near Eastbourne. Cossack's depth charges exploded as a result of the collision, sinking The Duchess and blowing off Cossack's stern. Cossack was towed to Dover for repair.
One of the es**rt ships, Torpedo Boat 3, included the following information in the ship's log: "1 July. 12.15am: Transport and HMS Cossack collide. Depth charges from Cossack blew up the transport which sank 12.16am. Closed Transport searched for survivors. Picked up 4 survivors of Transport SS Duchess 02.00am. Proceeded to the assistance of Cossack - took in tow. Arrived Newhaven and discharged survivors"
Another es**rt ship HMS Leven, had a similar entry in her log - "Went to assistance of HMS Cossack in collision. Arrived on scene and found Cossack safely afloat, her stern being badly damaged"
HMS Cossack also sunk HMS Glatton in Dover Harbour, but that’s another story.

CC Dives 2026 Eastbourne
See link: https://sussexshipwrecks.co.uk/bookings/
Wreck only 90min runtime
Sun 21 Jun 2026 09:00 SS Cairntorr [+1915] 57m
Sun 19 Jul 2026 08:00 Unknown 55m
Sat 08 Aug 2026 12:00 SS Caleb Sprague [+1944]45 55m
Sun 16 Aug 2026 07:00 Pottery wreck 44m
Sun 06 Sep 2026 12:00 SS Seven Seas ? [+1915] 44m
Sat 26 Sep 2026 09:30 SS Carlisle Castle [+1918] 44m
Sun 27 Sep 2026 10:00 SS Ville de Bordeaux [+1911] 44m
Sun 18 Oct 2026 09:30 SS Samwake [+1944] 50m, top at 30m,
Sun 01 Nov 2026 08:00 SS Caleb Sprague [+1944]45 50m

Sussex Shipwrecks Bookings – Sussexshipwrecks Charter Boat & Diving Join us for unforgettable wreck dives and drift diving adventures along the Sussex coast — perfect for both seasoned divers and newcomers.

May Bank Holiday Sat 23 to Mon 25th May UPDATED
Air Available
Sat 23 May 2026 Oceana 24m plus Drift 09:30, Full
Sun 24 May 2026 SS Braunton 28m plus Drift 10:030, 5 Spaces
Mon 25 May 2026 TR Thomson 31m plus Drift 12:00, 7 Spaces

Eastbourne Sussex
Taking Bookings for individuals and small groups
See link: https://sussexshipwrecks.co.uk/bookings/

May Bank Holiday Spaces Eastbourne
Sat 23 May 2026 Oceana 24m plus Drift 10:00
Sun 24 May 2026 Lullington 28m plus Drift 08:00
Mon 25 May 2026 Alaunia 36m plus Drift 09:00

Sun-10-May-2026 ropes off 10:30 Liberty Ship SS Samwake [+1944]50m, top at 30m. wreck only CC Divers, £70 per diver.
Just inside the shipping channel so doesn't get dived a lot.
When you dive the Samwake you can see into the Boiler Room the veiw is as drawing below. Top of hull is at 30m and the seabed is at 50/55m/ Viz is usually excellent as in the shipping lane with general depth of 55m plus.

Whats App 07711570294 or call mike
www.sussexshipwrecks.co.uk

Kenneth James Muress memories of serving in the Merchant Navy,
see link: https://muress.com/my-time-on-the-wartime-convoys/
……Nor the time we were sailing next to the fellow Liberty Ship SS Samwake ahead of us on the port bow, when a torpedo missed us and hit her on the stern cutting the stern completely away as if it had been carved with a gigantic knife. As we passed by, we could see into the rear hold; and realised that she must have lost at least half of her complement of gunners and crew. Our luck became their tragedy.

Dive Boat SUSSEX Eastbourne Oct Spaces
Sat 4th Oct 2025 08:30 Lullington 28m plus Drift
Sun 5th Oct 2025 09:30 Unknown 28m plus Drift
Sat 11th Oct 2025 07:30 Alaunia 28m plus Drift
Sun 12th Oct 2025 08:00 SS Seven Seas ? [+1915] 40m plus Drift
Sat 18th Oct 2025 08:00 Alaunia 36m plus Drift
Sun 19th Oct 2025 08:30 Oceana 28m plus Drift
Sat 25th Oct 2025 11:30 SS Møhlenpris [+1917] 33m plus Drift
Sun 26th Oct 2025 11:00 Blanefield 31m plus Drift
Taking bookings for 2026
Whats App Mike on 07711 570294
Or Email: sussexshipwrecks.co.uk

Spaces on Sussex, Eastbourne

Sat 27th Sep 2025 07:30 SS Lalen Mendi [+1917] 28m plus drift
Sun 28th Sep 2025 08:00 SS Clara [+1906] 32m plus drift
Sat 4th Oct 2025 08:30 Lullington 28m plus Drift
Sun 5th Oct 2025 09:30 Unknown 28m plus Drift
Sat 11th Oct 2025 07:30 Alaunia 28m plus Drift (Paul6)
Sun 12th Oct 2025 08:00 SS Seven Seas ? [+1915] 40m plus drift
Sat 18th Oct 2025 08:00 Alaunia 36m plus drift
Sun 19th Oct 2025 08:30 Oceana 28m plus drift (JS2)
Sat 25th Oct 2025 11:30 SS Møhlenpris [+1917] 33m plus drift
Sun 26th Oct 2025 11:00 Blanefield 31m plus drift

Eastbourne Spaces first weekend of September
Sat 6 Sept 0900 SS Ondine 32m + drift, 4 spaces
Sun 7th Sept 0930 SS Lisbon 40m + Drift, 8 spaces
Whats App 077111570294
or Email [email protected]

Sussex Shipwrecks Eastbourne Dates 2025

Sat 30 Aug 2025 09:00 Oceana 24m plus Drift
Sun 31 Aug 2025 09:30 Alaunia 28m plus Drift
Sat 6th Sep 2025 09:00 SS Ondine [+1860] 32m plus drift
Sun 7th Sep 2025 09:30 SS Lisbon [+1917] 40m plus Drift
Sat 13th Sep 2025 08:30 SV George Sutton [+1883] 28m plus drift
Sun 14th Sep 2025 09:00 HMT Taipo (FY 1627) [+1917] 24m plus drift
Sat 20th Sep 2025 09:30 SV Startled Fawn [+1867] 26m plus Drift
Sun 21st Sep 2025 10:00 SS Frogner [+1907] 26m plus Drift
Sat 27th Sep 2025 07:30 SS Lalen Mendi [+1917] 28m plus Drift
Sun 28th Sep 2025 08:00 SS Clara [+1906] 32m plus drift
Sat 4th Oct 2025 08:30 Lullington 28m plus Drfit
Sun 5th Oct 2025 09:30 Unknown 28m plus Drift
Sat 11th Oct 2025 07:30 Alaunia 28m plus Drift
Sun 12th Oct 2025 08:00 SS Seven Seas ? [+1915] 40m plus drift
Sat 18th Oct 2025 08:00 Alaunia 36m plus drift
Sun 19th Oct 2025 08:30 Oceana 28m plus drift
Sat 25th Oct 2025 11:30 SS Møhlenpris [+1917] 33m plus drift
Sun 26th Oct 2025 11:00 Blanefield 31m plus drift
Sat 01th Nov 2025 07:00 HW Hastings TBA
Sun 02th Nov 2025 07:30 HW Hastings TBA
Sat 08th Nov 2025 10:30 HW TBA
Sun 09th Nov 2025 11:00 TBA
Sat 15th Nov 2025 07:00 HW Hastings TBA
Sun 16th Nov 2025 08:00 HW Hastings TBA
Sat 22th Nov 2025 10:00 HW TBA
Sun 23th Nov 2025 10:30 HW TBA
Sat 29th Nov 2025 10:00 LW Blanefield 31m plus drift
Sun 30th Nov 2025 11:30 LW TBA
Sat 06th Dec 2025 09:30 HW TBA
Sun 07th Dec 2025 10:30 HW TBA
Sat 13th Dec 2025 10:30 Alaunia 28m wreck only
Sun 14th Dec 2025 11:30 SS Glenartney [+1915] 34m wreck only
Sat 20th Dec 2025 09:00 Unknown 28m wreck only
Sun 21th Dec 2025 09:30 Oceana 28m wreck only

Email: [email protected]
What’s App or call 07711570294
www.sussexshipwrecks.co.uk