Mulberry Harbour: Artificial war time harbour unit 11m. Sat on a rather bland, flat seabed
under 9-10m of water, this structure never fulfilled its intended role. These large, floating,
concrete pontoons were designed to be linked together to form a huge floating harbour off
the Normandy coast after D-Day, so that the
Allied forces would not have to rely on
securing a decent port for resupply. When complete, the Mulberry Harbours could handle
as much cargo as Dover. This one, however, drifted on its mooring, hit the seabed and
sank while waiting for Dutch tugs to move it across the Channel. It was a loss for the war
effort, but, as it turned out, rather good for the diving community. Marine life loves this
smashed lump of reinforced concrete, which provides a protective reef on an otherwise
fairly featureless flat seabed. Over some 60 years it has become part of the ecosystem and
supports a plethora of life, from shellfish to crustaceans, cephalopods and fish. And being
in a sheltered and shallow spot, it's an ideal location.