17 SEPTEMBER 2001

The day started badly with the belief that buoys, left marking the dive site, had been stolen. As the tide slackened off they popped to the surface and a deco station was hurriedly deployed. The same mixes as the day previous were used. Davy Koh, a local Trimix diver familiar with the wreck and Martin Payne scootered down and made sure the line was securely attached. As soon as we knew we where properly tied in the next wave of four divers deployed (Doc, Mac, Paul and Greg). After forty minutes they could be seen back at the deco station. After another twenty minutes they reappeared with smiles a mile wide. The current had eased off and four of the team had managed the dive without scooters. Most had dropped to sixty-eight metres and checked out the 5-inch anti aircraft guns. Others ventured forward but no one had attempted the long swim to the props. Later in the afternoon Rod, Dave and Guy, with Dan filming went in to position the large brass memorial plaque, in memory of those who had fallen in 1941 serving King and Country. The plaque was clipped to the back of Guy's back 'D' rings and the foursome eagerly scootered off into the deep blue. In minutes all four had reached bottom and after a confirmatory search a large pipe near what once would have been the bridge section was selected. The heavy chain attached to the plaque was wrapped around the pipe and a large clasp locked it in place. After a moment of reflection the group broke down into two pairs. Rod and Dave, who had explored the stern section yesterday, moved forward to explore the bow section, with Guy and Dan going aft. As Rod and Dave moved forward along the bottom they passed a life raft, a poignant reminder of the sinking, lying on the sand beside the wreck. Peering under the upturned hull all the machinery of a battleship was open to view. Bollards dotted the hull and cable holders, now inverted still held their cables. Further along towards the bow Rod and Dave came across the forward twin 5 inch anti-aircraft, both barrels of which - like the stern 5 inch turret seen yesterday - were elevated out to the side perhaps in the last position they were fired during the battle. Further along they knew they must be near the four 15 inch main guns in A turret. Moving under the upturned hull they soon came across the huge barrels now resting on the seabed under the hull. As they inspected the guns they noticed that in the gloom they could see clear under the wreck to free water on the other side. It was clear that the foredeck is completely clear of the seabed - the wreck is sitting propped up on its huge turrets and colossal superstructure, leaving a dark and ominous chasm underneath. Moving back out from the darkness under the hull they came across the huge starboard anchor still held neatly in its hawse pipe. At the very bow a second starboard torpedo hit revealed itself just a few feet aft of the stem. The destruction here was catastrophic resulting in a hole being punched completely through to the other side of the bow. Conscious of the allotted time on the bottom ticking away, they now moved aft, higher up the wreck, towards the shot amidships. Just before the shot became visible the final third torpedo hole was found just at the start of the bilge keels, a third of the way aft.