HMS Southwold – Stern Section 72m Deep Wreck Dive, Malta

Overview of the Dive Site

The HMS Southwold stern is the aft section of a British Type II Hunt-class destroyer sunk in 1942, lying upright on a sandy seabed at around 72–73 metres depth, roughly 1.5 miles off Marsaskala Bay on Malta’s south-east coast. maltadives.com

The wreck of HMS Southwold is split in two: a larger bow section and a smaller stern section about 28–30 metres long, sitting approximately 300 m apart. The stern is compact but packed with detail – guns, depth-charge racks and stern structures – making it a favourite for experienced technical divers and CCR photographers. maltadives.com

As with many of Malta’s deep wrecks, HMS Southwold is now a protected heritage site and war grave, dived under permit through authorised operators. The Virtual Museum

Key Facts at a Glance

Type: WWII British Hunt-class destroyer stern section
Location: ~2.4 km (1.5 miles) off Marsaskala Bay, south-east Malta DIVE Magazine
Depth: Approx. 72–73 m (upright on sand) The Virtual Museum
Length of stern section: ~28 m maltadives.com
Seabed: Sand
Access: Boat only
Certification: Advanced trimix on OC or equivalent advanced CCR
Permit: Managed by Heritage Malta; special permit and approved operator required maltadives.com
Status: War grave; risk of unexploded ordnance

Location & Access

Both sections of HMS Southwold lie outside Marsaskala Bay on Malta’s south-east coast, on a flat sandy bottom. The Virtual Museum

Access is by boat only, usually from harbours on Malta’s south or central coast.
A shot line is always used for precise descent and ascent.
The wrecks are listed as underwater cultural heritage sites; diving is only allowed through registered dive centres and clubs working under Heritage Malta’s regulations. DIVE Magazine

Depth Range & Profile

For the stern:

Seabed / deck: ~72–73 m
Highest relief (gun mounts, superstructure): a few metres above the seabed

Most teams treat this as a single-level deep trimix dive: you arrive at full depth, tour the section and then begin a long ascent with substantial decompression. There is no natural “shallow” part of the wreck. maltadives.com

Recommended Certification Level

The Southwold stern is a proper technical wreck; it’s deeper than the bow and usually treated as the more advanced of the two dives. Dive Systems Malta

Open circuit:
- Advanced / full trimix certification (PADI Tec Trimix or equivalent)
- Significant experience in 60–70m+ dives with long decompression, ideally on wrecks
CCR / Hollis Prism2:
- Advanced / full trimix CCR certification
- Recent bailout practice and real dives in the 70m range
- Solid experience with multi-stage CCR dives and team procedures

If your deep technical experience tops out at 45–50 m or you’ve had a long lay-off, you should treat the stern as a future objective and start with shallower wrecks and/or the bow section.

Best Season & Typical Conditions

Season: Late spring to autumn is the main window for deep-wreck projects here.
Water temperature: Typically 14–16°C at depth in spring, 15–18°C in late summer.
Visibility: Often 20–30 m, but can be reduced by plankton or weather. DiveBoat.mt
Sea state: Exposed to open-sea conditions; dives can be cancelled at short notice if wind or swell picks up.

Current can be an issue both on the bottom and especially during deco, so conservative planning and good line skills are essential. Calypso Sub-Aqua Club

Why Dive the HMS Southwold Stern?

What Makes This Site Special for Tec / CCR Divers

Compact but detailed wreck: At ~28 m long, the stern packs in a twin gun mount, depth-charge racks and superstructure detail – a lot to see in one small footprint. The Virtual Museum
Upright attitude: Unlike many collapsed sterns, this section sits upright, giving an intuitive sense of the ship’s lines and a dramatic profile on approach. The Virtual Museum
Rich marine life: Reports consistently mention excellent coral and sponge growth and dense fish life, with some divers rating it among Malta’s best-decorated wrecks. maltadives.com
History & context: A frontline WWII escort-destroyer sunk while protecting a vital fuel tanker during the siege of Malta, now resting as a war grave and underwater museum piece. The Virtual Museum

If you like “busy” wrecks where every metre has something to look at, the Southwold stern is incredibly rewarding.

Dive Profile & Route Options

Typical Open Circuit Profiles

On OC, gas volume and deco are the main limiting factors. Plans usually involve:

Hypoxic trimix back gas
2–3 deco gases
Bottom times around 15–20 minutes for realistic gas / runtime

A common route:

Descend the shot to land near the stern deck.
Confirm team, gas and time, then:
- Tour the twin aft gun mount and surrounding deck
- Move along the depth-charge racks and stern railings
- Check selected superstructure features without straying far from the line
Begin ascent on schedule, not when you “feel like you’ve seen enough”.

Typical CCR / Hollis Prism2 Profiles

On the Hollis Prism2, the stern fits nicely into a moderate-length CCR project dive:

Bottom time often 20–25 minutes depending on plan and comfort
Runtime controlled by decompression choices and conservatism, not gas volume
Bailout planning is the critical factor – you plan as if you might have to ascend the entire profile on open circuit from 72–73 m

A typical route mirrors the OC one, but with slightly more time for photography or video. Setpoints, gradient factors and bailout strategies are chosen according to your training and team agreement.

Entry, Exit & Navigation Notes

Descent: Always on a shot or mooring line; expect mid-water with no visual reference until the last section of the drop.
On the bottom:
- The stern lies upright; once you see the guns and depth-charge racks, orientation is straightforward. The Virtual Museum
- The site is compact; one or two slow circuits usually cover the main features.
Ascent: Completed on the line, often with deco trapeze or support bottle at shallower stops depending on operator.

Because bow and stern are 300 m apart, this is always a separate dive from the bow section – you can’t reasonably swim from one to the other at depth. DIVE Magazine

Conditions & Hazards

Environmental

Current: Can be strong at depth and mid-water; you must be able to hold stops and manage drifting teams without panic. Calypso Sub-Aqua Club
Visibility: Usually good but can fluctuate; silt from the wreck and seabed can reduce it if teams are careless.

Wreck-Specific Risks

The wreck is a war grave with unexploded ordnance (including depth charges) still present; nothing should be disturbed or removed. The Virtual Museum
There are typical wreck hazards: sharp metal, wiring, cables and possible fishing line.
Penetration is not recommended – the stern is relatively small and structurally compromised in places.

Minimum Competence

Teams should already be comfortable with:

Long deco and multi-gas ascents
Problem-solving at depth (lost gas, valve drills, CCR bailout)
Maintaining formation and awareness in limited-time environments

Wreck / Site History

The Ship

HMS Southwold (L10) was a Hunt-class escort destroyer, around 85 m long with a beam of about 9.5 m, built in 1941 for convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. maltadives.com

Sinking

In March 1942, during the siege of Malta, Southwold was involved in escorting vital convoy ships including the fuel tanker Breconshire. While attempting to pass a tow line to Breconshire near Żonqor Point, she struck a mine, suffering severe structural damage and flooding of the engine room. The Virtual Museum

An attempt was made to tow the damaged destroyer, but her hull split and she sank in two main sections on 24 March 1942. Most of the crew survived; one officer and five ratings were lost. The Virtual Museum

Points of Interest Underwater

Key Stern Features

On the stern section you can expect to see:

Aft twin 4-inch gun mount, still in situ and very photogenic The Virtual Museum
QF 2-pounder (“pom-pom”) anti-aircraft gun mount structures
Depth-charge racks with unused depth charges visible on the wreck The Virtual Museum
Sections of superstructure and deck fittings, railing, bollards and other hardware

Marine Life & Photography

The Southwold stern is known for:

Rich coral and sponge growth on guns and railings
Shoals of damselfish, anthias, and frequent larger visitors in the blue
Excellent wide-angle opportunities: the upright stern, gun silhouette, and depth-charge racks framed against open water

This is a dive where a well-planned shot list pays off – your time on the bottom is limited.

Training & Skill Development Opportunities

Courses & Workshops

The stern makes a strong capstone dive for:

Advanced trimix programmes (OC or CCR) once performance at shallower depths is proven
CCR expedition skills workshops, focusing on:
- Deep bailout planning
- Team protocols around shot lines and deco
- Camera handling and task loading on deep wrecks

Skills You Can Practise

Fine-tuning buoyancy and trim around fragile structures and ordnance
Maintaining team formation and communication on a compact but deep site
Efficient ascent management with staged deco, particularly in mild current

Gear & Gas Planning Notes

Cylinders & Configuration

Open circuit:
- Backmount twins or large sidemounts with multiple stages
- Sufficient back gas and deco gas reserves for contingencies
CCR (Hollis Prism2):
- At least two appropriately-sized bailout cylinders with realistic gas for a full ascent from 72–73 m
- Clean rigging and stage placement for easy access around guns and racks

Gas & Deco

Hypoxic trimix as bottom gas, tuned for low narcosis and safe oxygen exposure
One or more deco gases (common choices: intermediate nitrox/trimix plus high-O₂ mix)
Clear written plan covering gas switches, lost-gas scenarios and bailout decision points

Logistics & Surface Interval

Boat & Day Planning

Southwold stern dives are typically run as part of a deep-wreck programme, often paired with a separate day on the bow or other 60–70m wrecks. Expect:

Early departure and detailed briefing
Single deep dive with long runtime
Long surface debrief and proper recovery time afterwards

Facilities for trimix fills, O₂ and CCR sorb are arranged in advance through Jason and partner tech centres.

Why Dive the Stern with Jason Trott & diveprism2.eu

Small Teams, Solid Procedures

On wrecks like the Southwold stern, Jason runs very small, well-matched teams, with emphasis on:

Thorough planning and realistic gas/bailout strategies
Clear roles and communication on the shot line and during deco
Straight-talking debriefs to keep improving each dive

Wreck & Prism2 Expertise

Jason Trott is a Malta-based PADI Tec instructor and Hollis Prism2 CCR instructor specialising in wreck-focused technical and CCR diving around Malta, including HMS Southwold, HMS Russell, JU88 South and other deep WWII wrecks.

Jason Trott, at diveprism2.eu, offers small-group, wreck-focused trimix and Hollis Prism2 CCR training plus guided technical dives on Malta’s deep heritage wrecks, including the 72m stern of HMS Southwold.

FAQs About Diving the HMS Southwold Stern

How deep is the stern section?
The stern section of HMS Southwold lies upright at around 72–73 m on sand, about 300 m away from the bow. DIVE Magazine

Is this different from the bow dive?
Yes. The bow is a separate section at roughly 65–70 m on its starboard side, while the stern is slightly deeper, upright and more compact. Both are independent technical dives. The Virtual Museum

What certification do I need?
You’ll need at least advanced trimix (OC) or equivalent CCR certification, with recent deep-wreck experience and comfort in the 60–70m+ range.

Is a permit required?
Yes. HMS Southwold is managed by Heritage Malta; diving requires a special permit and must be done through approved operators. maltadives.com

How to Book or Plan Your Dive

Check Your Readiness

Before aiming for the stern, ask yourself:

Am I current on deep deco dives?
Have I recently practised valve drills / bailout and lost-gas scenarios?
Do I have a stable, compatible team?

If not, Jason can help you build a progressive path via shallower wrecks and the Southwold bow section first.

Contact Jason for a Southwold Plan

To plan a Southwold stern dive or a full Southwold bow + stern project:

Visit diveprism2.eu
Send Jason your current certifications, recent tech dives and goals
Ask about custom Tec / CCR coaching and Southwold project days in Malta

When you’re ready, the Southwold stern delivers exactly what deep-wreck divers love: history, structure, marine life and a serious but achievable challenge at 72 m.

HMS Southwold – Stern Section, Malta – 72m Technical & CCR Dive Guide