BURGHEAD TANK
POSITION. 5741.700N 00331.300W (GPS) DEPTH. LW 9m HW 12m
LEVEL. Club/Ocean/Open Water Diver
NOTE. If diving outside slack water times a strong easterly surface current can carry divers away from any shot dropped, however on descent the current subsides. Avoid diving after a period of prolonged N or NE winds.
The tank in natural light.
Sunk during the practices for the D-Day landings this World War Two Valentine amphibious tank is an ideal Novice dive, or a good dive to finish of the last of that air after one of the deeper dives in the area. Although damaged by the odd trawl net it is largely intact, as you would expect of an armoured vehicle. It is difficult to find without an accurate navigation aid however it is often buoyed during the summer months and using the transits, a good echo sounder and a bit of patience will pay off. On leaving the surface on a good summer's day and looking down into the clear water, the dark shadow below contrasting with the white sandy bottom of Burghead Bay indicates the position of the wreck. Upon reaching about 5m it is now obvious the dark cloud is in fact a large shoal of saithe who have found the tank an oasis on an otherwise barren seabed. Arriving on the bottom sitting there in front of you is an almost perfect tank, the hatches are open, evidence of the rapid departure of the crew as it started to take on water. The turret and drivers compartments are full of sand and any nook or cranny when explored is inhabited mainly by large cod and conger eels. A large brass propeller was used driven directly from the main engine whilst in the water and this can be seen in The Captain's Table café at the Findhorn boatyard. Log book entry 25 Sept 1986; 'dive 4, Burghead Tank. Burghead bay. Located easily using marker buoy tied on by a previous dive. Counted three congers living tank. Took home two large crabs and saw plenty of marine life. Large urchins, dead men's fingers and a big shoal of pollack. Very nice dive.'
Divers exploring the Burghead Bay Valentine Tank