TWe dived the Holland 5; a protected wreck and with thanks to NAS (Nautical Archaeology Society). One of the first subs accepted into the Royal Navy Service and carrying one of the earliest periscopes, she now lies 32m approx. 6 miles off the coast of Eastbourne. (She was built by an Irish engineer; I know one of his descendants which makes the dive all the more poignant for me and any jokes about it landing up where it is and I’ll mention the football!

In 1912 she floundered under tow possibly because the torpedo hatch had been left open although rumours abound that she was cut adrift and left to her fate because subs of this class were notoriously hard to tow. (We spoke with one diver who has confirmed- with a selfie stick!-  that the torpedo hatch is now closed). Regardless, this is a wonderful wreck to dive ; she is largely intact apart from a missing torpedo hatch ( divers blamed) and a couple of small breaches near the stern. She is beautiful; teeming with life and we were lucky that the visibility was near perfect. Unfortunately neither of us are yet adept at underwater photography so have one picture and dodgy video footage to share from our dive – sorry.