A cargo hold on the Dakotian
Hovering over the Dakotian ’ s engine room
The wrecks
The Dakotian ( 7-19m )
The Dakotian is a large wreck at 6,426 tons . A British cargo steamship , she met a premature end on 21 November 1940 after striking a magnetic mine while setting anchor . Luckily , all her crew were saved , but the ship quickly sank and now lies upright . Due to the explosion her bow was almost completely destroyed . In contrast , the stern remains relatively intact , with her large rudder still in place .
The wreck itself from amidships to the stern is still recognisably ‘ ship-like ’ and stands some 10 metres proud of the seabed , excellent for novice wreck divers . It really has the ability to capture the imagination . Moving along the wreck , you find the cargo holds are quite open with a number of inviting swim-throughs . It is still possible to find some of the large tin sheets she was carrying as cargo . The logical thinkers among you will know you are approaching the remnants of her engine room when you come across a large pile of coal she used as fuel .
36