On the 5th May 2008 the DIR-UK team became the first group to dive the wreck of the Ice Prince. The ship sank on the 15th January 2008 in rough weather after the cargo moved.

The greek registered vessel had 20 crew on board were rescued by helicopter and the lifeboat service. The lifeboat was damaged in the process of the rescue as the stricken ship rocked alarmingly in 16ft waves. The ship has settled 26 miles out from Portland, while sinking its bow remained out of the water with the stern banging on the sea-bed. This was evident on the wreck when diving her.

The wreck is lying on it's port side in 60m of water with the top of wreck at only 45m. There has been a reasonable amount of damage to it as it sunk. It still has very much the air of a working ship with plenty of rigging still in place and some of the wooden cargo still trapped on the wreck. 

As yet there is no sign of marine life on the wreck but we would like to dive it in the future and see how that changes over time. On a positive note there is no sign of oil or pollution occuring at the moment. The team consisted of the following.

Back row - Mal Bridgeman, Graham Knott (skipper), John Grogan, David Martin, Andy Kerslake

Front row - Joe Hesketh, Clare Gledhill, Al Pooley, Iain Smith

The divers are a group of GUE trained divers who utilised a mixture of open circuit scuba equipment and Halcyon RB80 rebreathers.

UPDATE July 08 -There has been a four page article in July's edition of Sport Diver.