Flying Enterprise Shipwreck

Wreck:- Flying Enterprise depth 280ft location western approaches Lat;49/40 Lon;004/15

Its interesting to note that the wreck of the Flying Enterprise compared with many wrecks within the same location remains relatively intact if only due to her age. She was however built within a period of which still makes her a more than interesting visit due to classic features from the era of the modern steamship as we know it. Irrespective of the fact this ship sank in Jan 1952 the Enterprise was one of the last classic shipwreck stories and provides the visiting diver with just that. Although an ordinary merchant bulk carrier the ever present legend that surrounds the ship relays indirectly with the diver on each and every dive. Depth to the wreck is some 280ft/85m so this is one for the more experienced diver and her location some 45 miles offshore also indicates or a reasonable journey out to the site. When we originally investigated the site our journey was on route back to Plymouth from Ushant after diving the famous treasure ship Egypt so the circumstances of the time were appropriate, of course back then finding a day boat to make the journey was rather difficult unlike today where a shuttle service out to the site is the norm.

Today Flying Enterprise lies on a sand gravel seabed east to south and completely over to her port side. Looking up from the seabed the bridge section, which is still very much intact towers high above with a least depth over the site of approx. 70m. All of her deck machinery is still in place and hatch combings of the five holds become obvious. Flying Enterprise had three deck levels all told with fuel and liquid cargo at the very bottom hull level. Deep Blue Diving now visit the wreck regular from Plymouth with the Seeker, and quite often will place a shot either in the very stern because of how she lies against the tide or aft of the bridge. The intact massive prop and rudder gear make an obvious landmark at the stern for the remainder of the dive. The bridge can be a little confusing when the conditions deteriorate as she is draped in trawl net (so be careful here) and aft is a huge break quite possibly due to any grab salvage attempts made soon after she sank. In good visibility the layout around the break is again obvious. The entire bridge is complete and there are many areas that the visiting diver can see within. For example her telegraphs still remain bolted to the interior decks as does her binnacle, then what was not fixed now lies scattered around the seabed, including her radio direction finder and other artifacts. Swimming forward of the bridge the wreck remains similar in feature to the stern decks other than anchor machinery and forward masts fallen to the seabed. Flying Enterprise is not of ocean liner calibre although she is slowly making a name for herself as one of the classic wreck dives in British Waters. To find out more about diving the wreck click here
Thanks to Lasse Spang Olsen for the use of his excellent CGI images
Leigh Bishop 2001

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