The 5,842-ton
P&O express liner Salsette is justly acclaimed as one of the most fabulous
shipwrecks in English waters and draws large numbers of divers to her. She
lies in Lyme Bay, some 11.5 nautical miles west of Portland Bill in 44 metres of
renowned clear underwater visibility. She is a haunting and moving wreck,
dominating divers with her sheer size. From her majestic bows to her
characteristic stern there is so much to see and appreciate. Large schools
of fish hang like curtains obscuring sections of the wreck, slowly moving and
shimmering in the light filtering down from the surface.The Salsette was torpedoed by UB-40 on 20 July 1917 after setting out from London bound for Egypt and Australia. More details on the Salsette are contained in Dive England's Greatest Shipwrecks.
