Stoney Cove · United Kingdom · Artificial reef · Freshwater
The Nautilus
A 10 m steel submarine replica on the 7 m entry-level shelf
Area photo: Mat Fascione · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Nautilus is a 10-metre steel structure built as a diver's tribute to Jules Verne's fictional submarine, and it rests on Stoney Cove's 7-metre entry-level shelf with a pronounced bow and a large propeller at the stern. Sitting in the shallowest of the site's three terraces, it is an easy, well-lit dive rather than a technical one, and a popular subject for photographers.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Stoney Cove and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
Built entirely of steel and ten metres long, the Nautilus was constructed as a diver's piece of art rather than salvaged from anywhere, taking its name and shape from Jules Verne's fictional submarine. It rests on Stoney Cove's 7-metre entry-level shelf, close enough to the surface that on a bright day there is no need for a torch to make out the menacing bow or the propeller at the stern.
Because the whole structure sits inside the shallowest of Stoney Cove's three terraces, the dive is a slow circuit around a fixed, well-lit shape rather than a navigation exercise, which is part of why it is popular with photographers and with instructors running early open-water dives. Expect company on busy weekends, since the same shelf hosts trainee divers and the nearby Viscount cockpit and archways.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Stoney Cove: Open 362 days a year. Clearest from late October through winter, coldest in February-March, and a June-August algal bloom cuts visibility even at the warmest surface temperatures.
Know before you go
- The shallow shelf can be busy with trainee divers and instructors; keep clear of groups working through skills before circling the structure.
- Steel edges and mounting points on the hull can snag hoses or gauges; keep equipment tucked in when moving close around the structure.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Nautilus?+
About 7 metres. It sits entirely within Stoney Cove's shallow entry-level shelf, so the dive is a straightforward circuit rather than anything with a profile to plan.
Is the Nautilus a real submarine?+
It is not a wreck at all: the Nautilus is a steel structure built and sunk purely as a dive attraction, styled after Captain Nemo's submarine from Jules Verne's novels rather than any real vessel.
Sources
- The Nautilus — Dive & Swim Stoney Cove
- Under Water Map — Dive & Swim Stoney Cove
- The Diver's Guide to Stoney Cove — Stoney Cove
In The Logbook
- Freshwater diving: lakes, springs and quarriesFreshwater · 15 min read
More dive sites in Stoney Cove
Wreck
The UK's largest inland wreck, a 1910 steam tug upright in 20 m of water
Artificial reef
A Wessex helicopter airframe sunk deliberately in 22 m near the north cliff
Artificial reef
An airliner cockpit on the 7 m shelf, placed around 1967
Similar dives elsewhere
A neon-yellow Piper once owned by astronaut Alan Shepard, hovering at 10 m
The ruined vibrating-screen plant of the old chalk works, at 20-35 m
The large tugboat Triumph, and very large ling cod on the structures
The most popular diving location in Seattle, entered off the beach