NBM Dive Site Resource
SM UB-81 — Isle of Wight controlled site
Isle of Wight and the English Channel, United Kingdom coastal waters, United Kingdom
Historical diving and archaeological studies document UB-81 off the Isle of Wight.
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Featured Hero Photograph
Aquatic life at this dive site
What divers may encounter
Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Site media
Photographs
Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Contributor media
Dive videos
Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.Regional location and nearby land
Location map
Regional overview includes nearby land. Historical loss positions are not verified navigation fixes; no precise wreck marker is inferred.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Recent field observations
Diver-reported temperatures
Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.
Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
Historical diving and archaeological studies document UB-81 off the Isle of Wight.
Shipwreck-only module
The wreck
This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.
- Vessel type
- German World War I Type UB III submarine
- Year built
- 1917 (launched)
- Year sunk
- 1917
- Cause of loss
- Mined southeast of Dunnose Head on 2 December 1917; an attempted escape ended in flooding, with six survivors.
- Present condition
- Historically dived submarine wreck with damaged and separated hull sections.
- Penetration guidance
- External historical context only; no authorization for penetration, recovery or disturbance.
Before you arrive
Access notes
CONTROLLED SITE: the 2026 designation order defines a 250 m protected area. Diving and entry require the appropriate Ministry of Defence licence; this is a heritage reference, not a routine dive recommendation. Historical studies give approximately 27–28 m. No routine recreational access is implied. This record documents a wreck and its research history. It does not establish public charter availability or permission to visit. Confirm access with the responsible authorities and qualified local support; respect the site’s naval-heritage context.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Offshore weather and currents, depth and decompression exposure where applicable, low or changing visibility, entanglement, unstable or damaged metal and possible ordnance. Do not disturb remains or remove objects.
Independent resource notice
This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.