SILO REEF (also known as the inner/outer Jenny Grounds).

This site is a patch of reef where the sea bottom consists of large rocky areas and even some small cave-like gaps.  With a maximum depth of 10-12 metres at high tide, you could spend hours looking around the reef.  Due to its close proximity to the shore (about 1 mile) fish life is prolific as they escape trawlers!  Species seen include cod in winter, the usual huge shoals of bib, whiting, poor cod, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse and pollack.  This area is quite heavily potted so the lobsters seen are usually snared in pots, but you might be lucky to see a few hiding under the various crevices.  Edible crabs are often present also hiding under crevices, and there are usually some velvet-swimming crabs around.  The name Jenny Grounds originates from all the mussel beds in the area which are everywhere.  Further along towards Brighton way, there is a very old wreck of a dredger, though there is not much left now.

THE LEDGES (also know as SouthWest Rocks and Looe Gate). 

This site stretches in a northeast to southwest direction from Brighton's Palace Pier outwards and continues on out about 3 miles to form College Rocks.  The best patches to dive are Looe Gate near to Brighton Pier and a bit further out at SouthWest Rocks.  The rocks themselves rise up to form a ledge about 2 metres high in places and provide large crevices for fish to hide and swim.  This makes an ideal drift dive as you can shelter from the current quite well and stay next to the ledge.  Fish seen include flatfish (if you're lucky), bib, wrasse, triggerfish in the summer, bass (if you're really lucky) and crabs.  Fanworms are very prevalent along the entire wall and cuttlefish spawn here in early summer.   Both the SouthWest Rocks & Looe Gate sites are designated Marine Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, due to their geological & marine life interest. 

'MIOWN' WRECK (also locally known as the cement wreck). 

This wreck lies directly off Shoreham Harbour about 1.5 miles out.  Lying in a maximum of 10-12 metres at high tide, this wreck has recently started to uncover again after many years of being hidden in the sand.  Sunk in 1914 in a gale, she was carrying a cargo of cement (hence her other local name).  All her crew perished when abandoning ship due to the icy February waters, but the captain remained onboard, clinging to her mast until rescued.  Her cargo can still be seen today, albeit solidified into lumps of rock!  The most prominent part is her large boiler which stands proud about 2 metres.  There are also quite a few of her ribs to be seen now, including the lifeboat davits sticking out at 45 degrees (see picture below).  Fish life on this wreck is again prolific.  In summer, shoals of bib appear as a cloud, constantly checking the divers out who visit their home!  This site is excellent as a night dive in good visibility, with lots of crabs coming out at night to mate and eat, and cuttlefish virtually guaranteed.  Some very large wrasse can also be seen in summer skirting around.  Towards the bow section, away from the main wreckage is a large anchor, not associated with the actual wreck.

'INDIANA' WRECK  

Situated about 1 mile directly off Worthing Pier, this wreck provides similar conditions to the Miown and is a hugely favourite dive for all levels of diver.  Sunk in 1901 after a collision with another ship in fog, the Indiana was in the process of being towed when she gave up and sunk.  Carrying a cargo of oranges and lemons, there were reports of lots of marmalade made in Worthing that year!!  She was levelled soon after due to her proximity to shipping lanes, but today much of her is now visible including large ribs sticking out of the sand.  Usual conditions on the Indy are 8-10 metre visibility, making it a very pleasant dive.  With the presence of lots of metal plates uncovered, there are various areas where fish and crustaceans can hide.  One large section has formed a tubular structure where congers often hide.  In summer temperatures, you can lie on the bottom & find colonies of prawns hiding under the plates.  If you are patient, you can wiggle your fingers and the prawns will come out and pick bits off your fingers!  A really nice dive in good visibility and ideal for novices.  Some very large bass have been seen here in summer swimming very close!

STEAM TRAWLER WRECK  

Situated about 5 miles off Shoreham, this wreck has no known history except that it was a trawler.  Still in quite ship-shape condition until recently, the starboard side is now falling in to itself and the bow has sunk into the sand and turned with the nose pointing upwards.  It was possible to penetrate this wreck but now it is in too much of a dangerous condition.  The bottom composition around the trawler is easily disturbed so good buoyancy is essential.  However there are times when the visibility is exceptional, and this makes an excellent dive in these conditions.  Life seen include the usual large shoals of bib, lobsters, crabs & flatfish.  This wreck is rarely fished due to its small size so life is usually prolific.

'PENTRYCH' WRECK 

Locally known as the six miler due to its distance, the Pentrych is a lovely wreck in good visibility.  Sunk in 1918 by the submarine UB40, most of her middle section has disappeared but her large boilers are still prominent amidships & the massive stern section makes an excellent starting point.  Towards the stern there is a large gun to be seen in amongst all the other mangled parts.  Just forward of the stern on the starboard side you'll find a large propellor.  In June 2005 one of the blades was covered in a carpet of beautiful Jewel Anemones, a rarely seen species in Sussex waters (see photo below). This is a big wreck and takes a good 30 minutes to look around.  Maximum depths are 25-26 metres at high tide.  Again, as with most wrecks in this area, fish life is usually prolific with bib, wrasse, bass & pollack commonly seen.

'CITY OF LONDON' WRECK 

Commonly thought to be two wrecks on one site, lying seven miles off Shoreham, the history isn't clear due to the mix up with which wrecks are located here.  The main location is a wreck lying upside down at a maximum depth of 27 metres, and is again prolific in fish and sponge life.  Species seen here include bib, whiting, poor cod, ballan wrasse & red mullet.  There is a large amount of wreckage with various plates for fish to hide under.  Her boilers are also quite clearly seen.

'CITY OF WATERFORD' WRECK 

A very popular wreck site lying 10 miles off Brighton, the Waterford makes for a spectacular wreck dive.  Still recognisably ship-shape, her stern & bow sections are still fairly intact, but the mid-section is badly broken.  Sitting on a sand scour in 30 metres, she is an impressive sight when you sit on the bottom looking up at the structure.  Her history is quite colourful, including action during WWII in the Irish Sea.  A Nazi plane engaged her in a running battle whilst carrying a full cargo of cattle, and was eventually brought down by the plucky ship!  Her captain received an MBE for this action.  She continued operating after the war as a cargo ship until eventually she was involved in a collision in 1949 with a Greek vessel in thick fog.  Fish life includes the normal dense shoals of bib, pollack, wrasse, conger eels, lobster & edible crabs.  She is covered in Dead Mans Fingers and many species of anemones.

'VALE OF LEVEN' WRECK (also called Steam Drifter). 

This one lies about 10 miles off Worthing and is well worth visiting.  No history is available.  Lying on her starboard side, the exposed port side has rusted through leaving large uniform holes, allowing divers to see inside the holds.  Fish life is abundant with some very large bass hiding in the holds of the wreck.  Also present are bib, poor cod, whiting, lobsters, spider crabs, edible crabs, common mussels & scallops.  The wreck is covered in Dead Mans Fingers.  At the stern section there are some old nets caught on the wreckage so take care to avoid snaring.  Her propellor is clearly visible with one of the blades missing, and her rudder is also visible.  At the bow section you can enter the wreck with care, though she is slowly being sucked in to the sand.  In good visibility and with the sun shining, some divers have likened entering her to being inside a cathedral with the sun shining through the holes on the port side.  Maximum depths are 26-28 metres.