Wreck of the E49, Baltasound

The weather was kind! We steamed up to Unst and dived the wreck of the WWI submarine E49.

In March 1917 the E49 went into Baltasound to make repairs in the sheltered natural harbour. Unfortunately she was spotted by a German sub, which layed mines across the entrance to the Sound. When E49 headed back out to sea on 12th of March, she struck a mine and was lost with all hands. The area where she lies has a soft sand and shell seabed, where the submarine sits upright but partially buried. The conning tower has collapsed to starboard, the bow was blown off and lies a few metres away.

The site is very tidal, so the visibility was outstanding. She sits in 22m, on this occasion, with the sun streaming down, it was an absolutely stunning dive.