Dive on the wreck of the Ella Sayer on 13 November 2011

Lynda and I joined a mixed group of divers on Dive125 out of Weymouth.  A comfortable 10:15 ropes off meant the start was not too early but a 16 mile sail and a 1:30pm dive made for a return in the dark.

For mid-November the weather was mild and sunny, although a force 3-4 made the sea rather choppy.  Sea temperature was 15c as we descended to this upright wreck sitting on a 40m seabed

The Ela Sayer was a British Merchant steamer of 2,549grt. On the 29th April 1918 when on route from Penarth for Dunkir, carrying coal, she was torpedoed by German submarine Ub-57 and sunk when 15 miles E x N from Royal Sovereign lightship. Owned by Fisher, Renwick & Co, Newcastle. 

The wreck is virtually split in two at the area of the engine/boilers.   At the break the engine was visible although buried and broken with a large crank visible at an unnatural angle.  A large single boiler is sitting to the starboard side of centre.  Diving the forward half of the ship which is lying very intact at an angle to starboard, deck rails visible on both sides, we passed two large holds with their respective large loading winches before reaching the large bows sitting ~10m off the seabed.  Swimming off the point of the bows was very atmospheric.  Plenty of marine life with crabs, lobsters and the usual bib but Lynda spotted a large John Dory, very unusual to see one so far east.  A 1 hour run time was soon up.

A good dive and must go back next year to dive the stern section. 

Jim and Lynda