This one is a day trip with a single dive (due to depth – 50 metres) to the wreck of the Avalanche on Scimitar out of Portland Harbour.

The three-masted iron sailing ship, left London in for Wellington, New Zealand, under command of Capt. E. Williams. She carried 63 passengers, with a crew of 34.

At about 9:30 on the evening of Tuesday, the 11th September 1877 the ship being in charge of a pilot, she was run down by a sailing ship Forest, 1.488 tons of Windsor NS in ballast for Sandy Hook, New York.

Of those on board, only three managed to save themselves by clambering to the other ship. The impact was of such a violence that the Forest was unable to keep the water under control and she also sank one hour after the Avalanche.

At the time the sea was very high, with violent squalls of wind and three boats were swamped so that out of the 24 on board, including the three from Avalanche, only 12 got ashore. Capt. E. Lockhart and eight of the crew of the Forest were among the survivors with the three men from the Avalanche.

The cargo was general, including much pottery and glass. Public subscriptions raised money to build a church at Southwell on Portland as a memorial.

The wreck stands around 4 metres high from the sea bed.

Cost is £80 and it’s ropes off at 10:30 with an approximate 4:30pm finish

If you’re interested then please book yourself a place here https://www.scimitardiving.co.uk/events/avalanche-50m-4/& let me know you’re coming