Aeolian Sky
Location: 5 miles off St Aldhelm's Head
Description: 10,715-ton Greek cargo vessel
Dimensions: 490ft x 72ft
Depth: 30 metres
Sunk: 4 November, 1979
She was just a year old, and big with it. Her hull and machinery was valued at over £3 million without any cargo. Despite foul weather, the 148m-long ship made good progress until, on 3 November, 1979, she collided with another motor vessel, the West German Anna Knuppel. Her crew were all taken off by helicopters, before a French tug got her in tow and headed for Portland Harbour. Early the next day, the Sky sank amid gale-force winds and huge seas. Poisonous chemicals in drums were soon being washed ashore along the coast of the Isle of Wight, and a major danger alert was put into operation. The cargo was listed as hundreds of containers of such chemicals plus paint and thinners, liquid chlorine, butane aerosols, Bostik cleaner, ammonia, glass, barbed wire and, of course, Land Rovers. She was also said to be carrying more than a million pounds in Seychelles rupee bank notes in her sickbay (for want of anywhere else to put them). Most of these are still missing.
Most of her hull is still intact with the holds still full of cargo. The wreck is mostly intact except for bow, which was blown off during cargo salvage attempts. She lies on her port side on limestone seabed.
Beware of accidentally entering this huge wreck when visibility is poor as it is easy to get lost inside the wreck before you realise you have entered it.
A full wreck tour can be found here: Wreck Tour: 27, The Aeolian Sky
References taken from Dive Dorset & Divernet.