The Outer Mulberry, located off Selsey in West Sussex, is a popular dive site for divers of all levels.

The 1944 invasion of France included the use of floating pontoon units called the Mulberry harbour units.

In the lead-up to D-Day, these were transported to the south coast and stored in preparation by sinking them in shallow water. The majority were re-floated and towed across the English Channel, which aided our troops by giving the larger vessels the opportunity to offload troops and small equipment without going aground.

Any damaged units were abandoned and were left where they were stored and used by the RAF for target practice, become todays wrecks.  We are lucky enough to have two such units situated off of Pagham Harbour, one just off the beach and accessible from Pagham beach, and a second accessible as a boat dive from Selsey, known as the Outer Mulberry, a well-known dive site noted for huge numbers of fish.

Unlike ordinary shipwrecks, there are no bow, stern, or propulsion unit to attract serious wreck divers; however, it still offers plenty for everyone.

From native oysters to lumpsuckers, this site is renowned for its importance in nature conservation. Consequently, divers and fishermen alike adopt a voluntary no-take approach. The area is clearly marked with a large, permanent buoy and a chain leading down to the seabed. As you follow the shot line to about 10 metres below, the Mulberry can be seen (on a clear day) to the north-east, approximately 10m from the concrete base at the bottom of the shot.

The first thing you will notice is two cylindrical clump anchors, approximately 1.8m by 1.5m. Behind these anchors, you will see the twisted and contorted steel that reinforced the collapsed concrete structure.

A word of warning: In some areas, the eroded steel protrudes from the wreck, which can cause entanglement or could result in injury.

Click here & check out our Charter Schedule for diving opportunities on this dive site.