I Dived To Victory
It was on Friday the 13th February 1981, that VICTORY steamed into the Maldives laden with ‘goodies’ from Singapore. 5,000 tons of solid steel.
For some unknown reason rumour has it her Skipper was as drunk as a skunk! And very happily steered her straight onto the island of funadho which lies close to Male, the Capital Island of the Maldives and a short way from Hulule the Airport island.
Having dented the reef and island in his somewhat ‘happy’ frame of mind the captain pulled wildly on the lever reversing the ship off the island – away in the deep where she then sank slowly and gracefully with mercifully no loss of life, settling at 40 metres! Her cargo an Alladins cave to the local community.
News travels fast and divers in the nearby islands winged in to try their luck! Cars, transistor radios, tinned goods and a load of French champagne to name but a few of her loot. However officialdom soon stepped in, and permits were required, customs officials accompanied the drivers watching from the boat while salvage operations took place. A few crafty drivers tried planting some of their loot under the boat when surfacing thus hopefully avoiding the eyes of the customs boys aloft, only to recover them at a later stage!
Many amusing stories abound as to what actually went on. Today permits are required to dive Victory, but are free. In time all the worth-while cargo was recovered. My story starts now!
For some unknown reason rumour has it her Skipper was as drunk as a skunk! And very happily steered her straight onto the island of funadho which lies close to Male, the Capital Island of the Maldives and a short way from Hulule the Airport island.
Having dented the reef and island in his somewhat ‘happy’ frame of mind the captain pulled wildly on the lever reversing the ship off the island – away in the deep where she then sank slowly and gracefully with mercifully no loss of life, settling at 40 metres! Her cargo an Alladins cave to the local community.
News travels fast and divers in the nearby islands winged in to try their luck! Cars, transistor radios, tinned goods and a load of French champagne to name but a few of her loot. However officialdom soon stepped in, and permits were required, customs officials accompanied the drivers watching from the boat while salvage operations took place. A few crafty drivers tried planting some of their loot under the boat when surfacing thus hopefully avoiding the eyes of the customs boys aloft, only to recover them at a later stage!
Many amusing stories abound as to what actually went on. Today permits are required to dive Victory, but are free. In time all the worth-while cargo was recovered. My story starts now!
My Victory Dive
In all the many years I have been going to the Maldives – diving, viewing, I had never plucked up the courage to dive Victory. Well the time had come! 9am Villingilli. Dive Master Herbert Ungar with a dive boat carrying 12 people. All experienced divers – and me!
9.30am Victory ahead. It was obvious that the current was strong, and visibility poor. But no wriggling out for me, although I felt quite sick! Herbert with a large board writing, drawing and explaining in detail what to expect. Everyone paying close attention to the briefing.
Victory lies in 40 metres, the new dive laws in the Maldives do NOT allow divers to exceed 30 metres, this will take you to her hold. Herbert makes a point in insisting everyone spends 10 mins at 3 metres at the end of the dive . Extra ropes are flung from our dive boat, well weighted down. A pot-pourrie of Nationalites, Japanese, German, Italian and French. Helfa the Courier for Neckermans leads a group over the side. My tank in position, mask adjusted I follow Herbert overboard. Thankfully the ropes securing Victory to hand! Thick, slimy but I cling fast. Down we go, slowly equalizing all the time. Visability poor, current strong, getting worse all the time! Herbert takes hold of me. I am hating every minute already, ask to go UP! He points out an octopus snuggling in the funnel!
The ghostly form of this monster of a wreck of the deep unfolds – a big lump of steel so spooky, dark, fish with no colour to them, plankton, bits of rust float past – down we go! Orange biscuits in plastic covers, tins of baked beans, coke and cassettes everywhere!
Into the Bridge, I pull the FULL ASTERN LEVER, dust and filth fly up at me! We move on, wriggling our way between steel bulkheads, moving along the deck / cabin areas, peering into portholes! My imagination rife! Can I see ghosts! So eerie and still.
I ask to go up again – poor Herbert – he knows me well, and we have a real underwater understanding. I have to admit I am OK! But my heart beating 19 to the dozen! Air going down faster! Along to the stern peering inside a tiny cubbyhole – lavatory! Herbert cleans it off – all white and gleaming. No, I do not want to spend a penny! I have been spending them with fright ever since leaving the boat!
Bits of loose boards float past, fish, mixed up with dirt and filth – I think to myself - what the hell am I doing down here, certainly no magic to this dive.
The other divers in the hold, we peer down at them – they at 40, I am at 24 metres, joy of joys, we start up the funnel! 20 minutes are spent on the wreck. Herbert fixes my legs around the loose rope from the dive boat, for ten minutes: I stay swaying about! Feel a bit giddy and longing to get aboard! Eager hands pull me – I sink onto the deck, weak, tired, aching for sleep! Herbert takes us to Male – food, glorious food in a tiny local café. How delicious it tastes, fresh fish, washed down with hot sweet tea a feeling of well-being engulfs me – but still longing sleep!
Herbert says my reactions are normal for a first wreck dive. I feel rather silly, the others seem to be full of life!
I have only the very highest of praise for Herbert – he a superb dive master!
9.30am Victory ahead. It was obvious that the current was strong, and visibility poor. But no wriggling out for me, although I felt quite sick! Herbert with a large board writing, drawing and explaining in detail what to expect. Everyone paying close attention to the briefing.
Victory lies in 40 metres, the new dive laws in the Maldives do NOT allow divers to exceed 30 metres, this will take you to her hold. Herbert makes a point in insisting everyone spends 10 mins at 3 metres at the end of the dive . Extra ropes are flung from our dive boat, well weighted down. A pot-pourrie of Nationalites, Japanese, German, Italian and French. Helfa the Courier for Neckermans leads a group over the side. My tank in position, mask adjusted I follow Herbert overboard. Thankfully the ropes securing Victory to hand! Thick, slimy but I cling fast. Down we go, slowly equalizing all the time. Visability poor, current strong, getting worse all the time! Herbert takes hold of me. I am hating every minute already, ask to go UP! He points out an octopus snuggling in the funnel!
The ghostly form of this monster of a wreck of the deep unfolds – a big lump of steel so spooky, dark, fish with no colour to them, plankton, bits of rust float past – down we go! Orange biscuits in plastic covers, tins of baked beans, coke and cassettes everywhere!
Into the Bridge, I pull the FULL ASTERN LEVER, dust and filth fly up at me! We move on, wriggling our way between steel bulkheads, moving along the deck / cabin areas, peering into portholes! My imagination rife! Can I see ghosts! So eerie and still.
I ask to go up again – poor Herbert – he knows me well, and we have a real underwater understanding. I have to admit I am OK! But my heart beating 19 to the dozen! Air going down faster! Along to the stern peering inside a tiny cubbyhole – lavatory! Herbert cleans it off – all white and gleaming. No, I do not want to spend a penny! I have been spending them with fright ever since leaving the boat!
Bits of loose boards float past, fish, mixed up with dirt and filth – I think to myself - what the hell am I doing down here, certainly no magic to this dive.
The other divers in the hold, we peer down at them – they at 40, I am at 24 metres, joy of joys, we start up the funnel! 20 minutes are spent on the wreck. Herbert fixes my legs around the loose rope from the dive boat, for ten minutes: I stay swaying about! Feel a bit giddy and longing to get aboard! Eager hands pull me – I sink onto the deck, weak, tired, aching for sleep! Herbert takes us to Male – food, glorious food in a tiny local café. How delicious it tastes, fresh fish, washed down with hot sweet tea a feeling of well-being engulfs me – but still longing sleep!
Herbert says my reactions are normal for a first wreck dive. I feel rather silly, the others seem to be full of life!
I have only the very highest of praise for Herbert – he a superb dive master!
