Plans to establish a series of new diving attractions and artificial reefs in Dorset's Portland Harbour area appear to be gathering pace.

The initiative, by the Weymouth and Portland Dive Charter Association, has received "significant help and support from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council".

A not-for-profit company, Underwater Attractions, has been formed to co-ordinate the campaign, with a steering group chaired by Liisa Wallace of Portland's Dive Dorset diving centre.

The most advanced negotiations concern a mini-submarine – a former research vessel not to full scale - "due to be sunk by autumn this year" outside Portland Breakwater, plus an 18m wooden motor vessel which should be "ready for sinking in 2006", inside the breakwater.

The idea of a trail of seabed sculptures is reported to have received an enthusiastic response from local colleges and artists. A plan for sculpture locations has been submitted to the harbour authority for approval.

The big one – a plan to sink a decommissioned naval vessel - is farther off, but a clear possibility. The Underwater Attractions steering group has visited Portsmouth, at the invitation of the Ships Disposal Agency, to view "several Royal Naval ships that are soon to become available".

Possibilities for the role of artificial reef and diving magnet, in the manner of Plymouth's HMS Scylla, are the decommissioned destroyers HMS Newcastle and HMS Bristol.

To further enhance existing diving attractions in the area, mapping of local reefs has been carried out to provide more information to divers about local geology and marine life. The results will be available online for divers to print and laminate as an underwater guide.

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