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Europe's First man made reef.

The Scylla is the first wreck deliberately sunk for divers anywhere in Europe, and its is an excellent dive.

Like all reefs, Scylla is a fragile environment. As she is colonised the anemones, sea squirts and other marine life will settle and fish and other mobile animals will be attracted to the developing reef. The area is a voluntary 'no take zone' in the hope that fishing will stop in the zone, so that the marine life can develop to its full potential.

HMS Scylla was an Exocet Leander class frigate, the last frigate to be built in Devonport Royal Dockyard in 1968. Scylla is 113m long with a displacement of 2500 tonnes. Scylla made news headlines in 1973 when she collided with the Torpoint ferry. She undertook 'Cod War' patrols in 1975 and in August 1980 was dispatched to deliver emergency relief teams to the hurricane stricken island Cayman Brac. In December 1987 she was deployed to the Persian Gulf.

In 1993 she was decommissioned and in 2003 was bought by the National Marine Aquarium to be placed on the seabed as a reef.

The ship has to be environmentally sound according to standards laid down by DEFRA. Any hazards or harmful materials were removed in order to make the ship fit for the seabed and marine life. Once complete, the ship then had all diving hazards removed. Potential snagging hazards were eliminated, doors welded shut or open to ensure diver safety and additional diver access holes were opened up throughout the 4 deck ship.

Divers have access to the superstructure, all of decks 1 and 2 and partial access to decks 3 and 4. Diving highlights include the captain's cabin, the bridge, galley, mess decks and living accommodation, operations room and the engine room.

In addition to the Scylla will obviously be diving other sites in the area including the James Egan Lane.

This is a trip not to be missed

Accomodation

For accommodation we have booked the Mountbatten Centre. This is a completely refurbished complex situated on the waters edge about 50m from the boat slipway. The place has been designed to serve the needs of divers, sailors, windsurfers etc. The place is very modern and clean, with great views over the harbour at Mountbatten. Take the virtual tour and look at the photos here http://www.widescreentours.com/mountbatten/vt.html.

Or visit the website at http://www.mount-batten-centre.com.

Accommodation is therefore simple. We have booked 6 double rooms, all with bunk beds. Showers etc. are all shared and once again they are clean and very new.