Looking back over five years of diving with Plymouth Sound Dive Club, the fact that stands out is when ever I have dived HMS Elk it has always been when the conditions have been adverse. Either it has been too rough to venture very far or the wind chill factor has meant that it would be suicidal to go too far from the heated changing rooms back at the Mount Batten Centre. This does not do the Elk justice. HMS Elk started life as a Grimsby trawler built in Hull in 1902. During the First World War she served as a minesweeper and was sent to the Dardenelles to help evacuate British troops in1918. After the war she went back to fishing. With the outbreak of World War Two she was once again requisitioned by the Royal Navy and based at Plymouth as a Dan layer. HMS Elk’s life with the Royal Navy was cut short when, on November 27th 1940, she hit a mine and sank at in 30 meters of water. (All the crew were saved.)

That's the boring bit over. Diving the Elk is a pleasure as she is a small wreck which allows you to swim around her twice before the surface calls. I would suggest starting on the outside of the Elk.