HMS M2 Submarine

Overview

The HMS M2 is one of the most unique and iconic wreck dives on the UK’s South Coast. Originally built as an M-class submarine during WWI, she was later converted into the world’s first undersea aircraft carrier, fitted with a watertight hangar for a small seaplane. She sank tragically in 1932 off the coast of Weymouth when water entered the hangar.

What you’ll see

The M2 sits perfectly upright on the sandy seabed, looking almost as if she is still cruising.

• The massive open hangar doors
• The conning tower and periscope shears
• Massive shoals of pouting and bib surrounding the hull
• Conger eels and lobsters hiding in the scour holes

The Dive Experience

This is an advanced dive. The seabed is at roughly 35m, with the top of the conning tower around 25m. Currents in the English Channel can be fierce, so diving is strictly limited to slack water. Visibility can vary from 2m on a bad day to over 15m on an exceptional day.

Getting There

The M2 is accessible via hardboat charters departing from Weymouth Harbour or Portland. It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to reach the site by boat.