HMS Pathfinder

Type: light Cruiser

Picture:

Wreck Information:The HMS Pathfinder was the first warship to be sunk by a torpedo fired from a submarine. She was a 2940 gross ton Light cruiser and went down on the 5^th of September 1914 . The torpedo, fired by the U-21 hit her forward magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes. She lost 259 of her crew with only 9 surviving.She lies upright in general depths of 68 metres, with the least depth to the decks of 60 metres. The stern complete with propellors and rudder is intact, and the ship is in very good condition to a point aft of the bridge structure then appears to be missing, and is just a jumble of scrap. This leads me to think she was hit directly in a magazine, rather than a coal bunker which went on fire. Some net was seen on the bridge, but apart from collapsed superstructure she appears to be fairly intact. The Torpedo tubes are intact and still in place, and four guns were seen and we believe there are more to be found, funnels were seen collapsed across the decks, which are littered with shell casings and ammunition, a telegraph was found on the deck and several smaller brass Gun Indicator telegraphs and portholes were seen. here were items of clothing on the wreck including seaboots, so we must assume they are human remains. This is a War Grave in which over 250 sailors lost their lives, and should be treated with respect. Visibility was excellent, over 30metres, with ambient light at 60m a superb dive with only hazards being some net foward of the bridge, and lots of rope on the Starboard side (lifeboat davit rope still in good condition after 90 years). At over 16 miles offshore and at 60+metres this is a serious dive, and all conditions must be right, this area is notorious for unpredictable currents, and changes in weather and sea conditions. If you want to Dive this Wreck I suggest you contact Iain and Jim Easingwood, Marine Quest, Eyemouth as they have the correct positions (it isnt where it is reported to be!).

Cargo: 

Harbour / slip: Eyemouth

Parking directions: Eyemouth Harbour Car Park (Free)         

Distance from harbour:    16 nautical miles

Lat & Long:  56’07’N          002’10’W

Chart:      Admiralty SC734/ Imray C27

Depth:    60-68m           

Tides:   Tide Tables 3 hours after HW/LW

Diveboat:     Marinequest 

Diveshop:    Aquastars     Edinburgh dive centre

Accommodation:   The Harbourside       Marinequest

Suggested experience:   Experianced master diver

Pub:   Oblo  

Created by:  Iain Easingwood       

Date: 17/5/07                                   

Thanks To:   Stevie Adams for Images and info

Links:  LINK     LINK    LINK

Underwater photos:     VIDEO

Wreck diagram:

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Dive Report:  Shads 13/8/00  This protected wreck is something truly to admire as a diver. There are some outstanding feature on this including torpedo tubes on the deck complete with trolleys. What struck me most on this was the narrow beam of this wreck, coupled with 2 awesome propellers its speed must have been quite something to see. The wreck is in 2 sections and we dived the rear section, the bow being some 2 miles further north where the vast majority of loss of life took place. Hitting the wreck we crossed over to the gunwhale and headed towards the split, passing several gun emplacements, shell casings and the engine room area all seen before hitting the split in the hull. Returning back towards the stern section further shell casings in boxes of 9, some of the cordite scattered over the deck where the heads had popped off the shell casing. Seemed quite odd to see the deck covered with a mixture of shell casings and large scallops. Amazing amount of life on the wreck.

Dive Report: