DATELINE :- 11th October 2000
PLYMOUTH WRECK PLAN
Diver looks to sink frigate as dive attraction in Whitsand Bay
A South-western diver hopes to buy a decommissioned warship from the Ministry of Defence and have it sunk as an artificial reef off Plymouth.
John Busby, a 40-year-old sport diver from Saltash on the River Tamar, was inspired to create a new attraction for divers by a recent dive on the well-known wreck James Eagan Layne, in Whitsand Bay.
"The wreck is slowly disintegrating, as are most of the wrecks around here," he told Diver. "Thankfully, fewer ships get wrecked these days but, taking the long-term view for divers, that means we'll have to put new attractions down there ourselves."
Busby has already stumped up £1400 for a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to allow him to apply to buy an old warship. "There are two Type 22 frigates, HMS Boxer and HMS Brave, to be disposed of," he said. "A Type 42 destroyer, HMS Birmingham, might also become available."
And how would he pay for a frigate? "My information is that a frigate would cost about £150,000 to purchase and, by the time you've cleaned it out, moved and sunk it, project costs could be around £300,000."
Busby has created an organisation, the Artificial Reef Consortium, which currently consists of himself, three sport diving acquaintances and Plymouth's Fort Bovisand diving centre. Plymouth University has shown interest and Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium has pledged support in terms of environmental research and advice.
The consortium will try to raise money from a host of sources, including businesses connected with diving tourism in the area.
An MoD spokesman confirmed that, in principle, it was not against the idea. Anyone could buy a decommissioned warship, he said, "as long as we are satisfied that it won't be used for anything untoward."