Helena Faulbaums.
The Helena Faulbaums is a Latvian cargo steamer lying intact and upright in deep water off the island of Belnahua. She was lost in a severe gale in 1936 with most of her crew. The wreck is sheltered from the main tidal streams and usually has good visibility, but its depth means it is for experienced, suitably qualified deep divers only.
What's down there.
- Intact hull sitting on an even keel
- Accessible engine and boiler
- Bow anchor chain
- 'Bird cage' effect where hull plating has fallen away
- Dense shoals of bib (pouting)
Deck and engine casing at about 47–54 m depending on tide; seabed about 58–65 m.
Sheltered from the main tidal streams, with generally good visibility. Depth is the main hazard: an advanced deep or technical dive for experienced divers only.
How it got there.
Built by the Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd at Grangemouth and launched as the Firpark on 24 February 1920. About 85 m (280 ft) long, 1,951 gross tons, with a triple-expansion steam engine. Sold in 1932 to Max Faulbaums of Riga, Latvia, and renamed Helena Faulbaums. On 26 October 1936, sailing in ballast from Liverpool to Blyth to load coal for Riga, she was caught in a westerly gale off Belnahua; her anchors dragged, she was driven ashore on the island and later sank back into deep water. Most of her crew were lost; four survived.
10 dives.
From the reconstructed log — the dates follow the pattern I dived, so read them as representative rather than exact.