Stern Hull section , with
Sargatia anemones
Ribs on the starboard hull engine still has parts of the inspection walkway in place . Its valves and gauges are all still in place , as well as the steam whistles – it ’ s such a rare opportunity to see them in situ .
At last , a name
DMSBs deployed , we start our ascent . We have been carefully monitoring our time , but even so the time at the end of the dive around the engine has meant we are going to be 10 minutes overdue when we surface . Feeling like naughty schoolkids we get back on the boat , de-kit in record time and I take over the wheel so that Paul and Dan R can get in the water . All the time I am hoping and praying we haven ’ t spoiled their dive by extending ours !
We watch the pick-up buoy as it slowly rotates , following the compass around the main shot buoy as the tide turns and start its ebb . Some 40 minutes later their dSMBs are up , and we know they have had a good bottom time and are on their way back up .
The major find of the day was of an oval brass plate , which it is hoped will help in our quest to identify the wreck , and it did not disappoint . It proves to be the maker ’ s plate giving the shipyard ship number 180 .
The Toilet Wreck no longer , is actually the SS Larchwood built in 1910 , and which sank in 1916 after a collision , accounting for the extensive damage to its bow . Tragically , eight of the 15 crew lost their lives that day . I have been a member of Ilfracombe &
North Devon Sub Aqua Club for some 25 years . In that time the club has not only trained me to dive but also given me the opportunity and support to become a club skipper and compressor operator and to dive so many places around the world , but always coming back to coast of North Devon for that extra special dive . �
n All artefacts raised during the dives on SS Larchwood were recovered in accordance with Marine Management Organisation ( MMO ) rules , and subsequently reported to the Receiver of Wreck . To contact the Receiver of Wreck , email row @ mcga . gov . uk tel 020 3817 2575 .
Steam wheel of triple expansion engine
Engine room walkway
Stern Post and four-bladed prop
Steam engine pressure gauges
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