Also known as: Aeolian Sky
At 148 metres and nearly 11,000 GRT, the Aeolian Sky is one of the largest diveable wrecks off the Dorset coast — a modern freighter whose size dwarfs the elderly steamers that litter the surrounding seabed. She was barely a year old when fog and misfortune conspired against her in November 1979: a collision with the German coaster Anna Knueppell off Guernsey, a desperate attempt to reach Portland, and then the storm that finished her five miles south of St Aldhelm's Head. Lying on her port side between 18 and 30 metres, she offers a dive of genuine scale — four cavernous holds, imposing cargo derricks, and a stern superstructure that still reads as a functioning ship. Salvage charges reduced her height somewhat, but the intact sections retain an architectural quality that smaller wrecks simply cannot replicate. Moderate currents demand careful planning, but the reward is a dive that feels truly immersive.
Collided with the German coaster Anna Knueppell in fog approximately 20 miles off Guernsey. Took on water while attempting to reach Portland and sank in a storm south of St Aldhelm's Head.
MV Aeolian Sky is a cargo vessel wreck located off Dorset, United Kingdom at a depth of 30 metres. The vessel was lost due to collision in 1979. The wreck is diveable.
MV Aeolian Sky lies at 18 to 30 metres depth, 5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head, Dorset.
MV Aeolian Sky sank after a collision on 4 November 1979, off Dorset, United Kingdom.
Diving the MV Aeolian Sky is rated advanced and is requires an Advanced Open Water certification with wreck diving experience. Minimum certification: PADI AOWD / BSAC Sports Diver. Recommended: PADI Deep Diver / BSAC Dive Leader.
The best months to dive MV Aeolian Sky are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Water temperature ranges from 7°C in winter to 18°C in summer.
MV Aeolian Sky is accessed by boat from Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 7.5°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 8.0°C | 5.0m | marginal | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Apr | 9.5°C | 6.0m | good | Moderate — season starting |
| May | 11.0°C | 8.0m | good | Good — cuttlefish, wrasse, pollack, nudibranchs |
| Jun | 13.5°C | 12.0m | good | Good — cuttlefish, wrasse, pollack, nudibranchs |
| Jul | 16.0°C | 16.0m | good | Peak — cuttlefish, large shoals, conger eels, nudibranchs, bass |
| Aug | 18.0°C | 20.0m | good | Peak — cuttlefish, large shoals, conger eels, nudibranchs, bass |
| Sep | 17.0°C | 15.0m | good | Good — cuttlefish, wrasse, pollack, nudibranchs |
| Oct | 14.0°C | 8.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollack |
| Nov | 10.5°C | 6.0m | marginal | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 8.5°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
18m top of wreck (post-salvage) to 30m seabed. 5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head.
Greek cargo freighter. Collided with Anna Knueppell in fog off Guernsey, sank in storm south of St Aldhelm's Head, 4 November 1979. 10,715 GRT.
Lies on port side. Stern and superstructure reasonably intact. Four massive holds, big masts and cargo derricks. 148m x 21.95m.
5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head, Dorset