This was a spectacular dive down to some of the Valentine Tanks off the coast of Swanage, Dorset.

The visibility was very good and there was an abundance of sea life. Of particular note was a very large Conger Eel and a reasonably large shoal of Bib.

During this dive my two buddies inadvertently managed to forget about me and wondered off to another tank. Thanks guys!

Not phased by this, I simply carried on diving until I found them... dive briefing gave me a good idea where they had gone and being both a Padi and IANTD Self-Reliant diver I wasn’t worried about being on my own. In fact it was good fun!!

VALENTINE TANKS

These tanks sank whilst practising for the D Day landings in Normandy. In 1942 these experimental tanks were fitted with canvas screens which could be raised or lowered pneumatically to allow them to float in the sea.

They were powered by a drive system that enabled the engines to turn large propellers mounted at the rear when the tanks were in the water. Most of the experiments took place in Poole Bay but a few succumbed in rough sea conditions and sank.