Ville de Bordeaux and Irisbrook - Two For The Price of One

by Gavin Blackwell

“A disastrous collision occurred off Beachy Head about three o’clock on Saturday morning between the steamer Irisbrook, of Glasgow, and the Ville de Bordeaux, of Dunkirk, and both vessels were foundered, though, happily, all on board were saved”.

So starts the contemporary article in the Dumfries & Galloway Standard on 5 November 1911, as unearthed by our resident wreck sleuth, Jamie Bassett. This followed his dialogue with the daughter of Thomas John Douglas, a member of the Irisbrook's crew on that fateful morning. We were actually due to dive the Argonaut on Sunday 24 August, but reports of poor viz in the area lead to a quick change of plan. Jamie, Lee and I dived the dual site of the Irisbrook and Ville de Bordeaux on 1 August (a birthday treat for Jamie) and I though that the unique opportunity of diving two wrecks, side by side, would adequately compensate those hoping to dive the Argonaut.

The Irisbrook and Ville de Bordeaux now sit bolt upright and intact, in a ‘v’ formation. The bow of the Irisbrook has collapsed and the Ville de Bordeaux has a large gash in her portside stern. Assuming they were both turning hard to starboard, they very nearly missed one another. I dived with Ian Garrard, a guest from Basildon branch, who also joined us in Scapa. The viz was a very acceptable 8-10m and we went straight for the stern of the Irisbrook. When viewed some metres back, sitting atop a rolling sandbank, the Irisbrook gives a spectacular view of her behind.

As an aside, we got to dive the Argonaut on Sunday 14 September and had only 1-3m viz, depending upon whose path you crossed! However, although the viz vindicated our change in plan, I now realised that my earlier depth predictions were wrong. We had previously dived the site on low water slack and it was now a high water slack. We therefore needed to add 5m metres to my estimates of 30-32m to the deck and 45m in the scours on the seabed. Just shows why one should add a bit of leeway to the depth when planning nitrox fills!

Back to the dive, Ian and I left the stern and went up, along the deck, to the bow. We then made the short jump to the Ville de Bordeaux, which comes into view like a newly discovered wreck. Time to examine her gash (!) and then drop to check out another perfectly formed arse. Gently back up her starboard side to the deck and up to the bow. Whilst crossing her forward hold we see a shoal of large cod that act quite erratically in our torch beams. A close inspection of the bow followed, before gently drifting back along the deck and calling the dive at our agreed 40 minutes.

37 minutes later we surfaced; I had 26% in my twins and 80% in my stage for deco. Ian was using his inspiration, which gives the optimum mix at all times, and a computer with a closed circuit mode. After 40 minutes on the bottom and a maximum depth of 50m, I only had 2 minutes more deco to do. A good case to illustrate just how efficient open circuit can be if the right mix is used. Roll up and see Lee for your nitrox courses!

The first dive was a cracker, but the day wasn’t over yet! Next, up we had a drift past the Royal Sovereign lighthouse, over undulating sand and various small reefs. Now the second dives along this part of the coast aren't usually up to much, but this was very pleasant, with good viz and plenty of critters to watch, as they went about their business.

The day was sufficiently successful to convince Ian Garrard to defect from Basildon to Billericay. We must be doing something right! Others on the boat have also seen the light (yes it was very light down there) and can see why we bother with the extra paraphernalia to go further offshore

Billericay SAC

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