Scarborough Sub Aqua Club have been exploring two historic shipwrecks on the Yorkshire coast, after enjoying good diving conditions in Bridlington Bay.

Members of Scarborough Sub Aqua Club recently completed dives on both the SS Longbenton and HMS Falmouth, taking advantage of the improved seasonal visibility to explore the wrecks and the thriving marine life that now surrounds them.

Five members headed out aboard the club's rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to dive the SS Longbenton, a World War One cargo ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1917.

The wreck lies off Flamborough Head, near Bridlington, and despite the damage caused during the attack, parts of the vessel remain clearly recognisable beneath the sea.

The Scarborough Sub Aqua Club members had fantastic visibility for their dives. Photo credit: Scarborough Sub Aqua Club.

placeholder image — The Scarborough Sub Aqua Club members had fantastic visibility for their dives. Photo credit: Scarborough Sub Aqua Club.

Divers described outstanding underwater visibility, allowing them to enjoy shoals of fish, colourful anemones and a variety of crustaceans that have transformed the wreck into an artificial reef.

The club said the Longbenton is an ideal wreck for less experienced divers, with the stern section still remarkably intact and the engine and boilers providing an impressive focal point beneath the surface.

Although the bow was destroyed in the torpedo strike, the outline of the ship can still be seen, with the ribs of the hull protruding from the seabed as a reminder of its wartime history.

On another recent outing, members visited HMS Falmouth, one of the Yorkshire coast's best-known wreck dives. The Royal Navy light cruiser saw action during the Battle of Jutland before later being torpedoed by German U-boats off the Yorkshire coast.

The group visited two wrecks off Bridlington Bay. Photo credit: Scarborough Sub Aqua Club.

Lying in around 20 metres of water, the protected wreck remains home to impressive Yarrow boilers and an abundance of marine life, including fish, anemones, crabs and lobsters.

A spokesperson for Scarborough Sub Aqua Club said: "It's days like these that remind us just how lucky we are to have such incredible historic wrecks and marine life right on our doorstep." “If you've ever thought about learning to dive or would like to explore the amazing underwater world of the Yorkshire coast, why not come along and see what Scarborough Sub Aqua Club is all about?"

The group has a clubhouse in Scarborough, where they have meetings every Wednesday at 8pm. Scarborough Sub Aqua Club also offers training, so welcomes all abilities to enquire.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/SSAC83/ for more information.