HMS Scylla

Plymouth, UK

The former HMS Scylla midway through her transformation. Diver access holes are visible along both the port and starboard sides of the ship.

After being in service for over thirty years, Scylla returned to her homeport of Plymouth to begin her latest duty as an artificial diving reef - the first of its kind in the UK.

Commissioned in 1970, HMS Scylla was the last frigate to be built in Plymouth, and the UK National Marine Aquarium, who has purchased the ship from the Royal Navy, is pleased to announce that she is finally returning home, where she will have a very different, but very important role.

Scylla arrived in Plymouth on Saturday 8th November 2003. Once in Plymouth Sound, local tugs took over and towed the vessel to Devonport Royal Dockyard where essential conversion work began in November.

After its smooth sinking, the Scylla now provides a fantastic opportunity to watch a fascinating new habitat on the seabed off Plymouth develop over the next few years. It will provide homes to a wealth of under sea wildlife. Cutting edge technology will enable the National Aquarium to show colonisation as it actually takes place. It will be the ultimate reality programme as characters move in and live out their lives.

Scylla brings with her a fascinating history spanning the 1970's 'Cod Wars' and providing emergency relief teams to hurricane stricken Cayman Brac. From spring 2004, she will take a different course on the seabed off Whitsand Bay as an artificial reef which will provide a unique ecosystem for recreational divers and offer research potential for science and industry.

Canadian Artificial Reef Consulting provided its expertise to the UK National Aquarium and transforming Scylla into an artificial reef.

For more information:

• Visit the UK National Aquarium's Scylla webpage: www.national-aquarium.co.uk
• Read the BBC story about HMS Scylla, the first artificial reef of its kind in Europe
• Read the Vancouver Sun story about the HMS Scylla sinking, and its positive effects on both Europe and British Columbia