3Jul26 Dive Talk – USCGC Tampa Discovery!

dry-activities -> events

What a fantastic evening we had at Alsager Sub-Aqua Club as we welcomed our guest speaker,  Barbara Mortimer, to share the remarkable story of the discovery of the USCGC Tampa.

Lost in 1918 during the First World War after being torpedoed by a German submarine, the Tampa lay undiscovered for more than 100 years. Located over 300 feet deep in the Atlantic, approximately 50 miles off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, its discovery was the result of three years of painstaking research, searching and technical diving by the British Gasperados Dive Team.

Barbara brought the story to life, taking us behind the scenes of this incredible discovery and giving us an insight into the challenges of deep technical diving, wreck identification and the determination required to locate such an important piece of history.

It was fascinating to hear how historical records, archive photographs and evidence from the wreck itself were brought together to confirm its identity.

For everyone at Alsager Sub Aqua Club, it was a privilege to hear about such an extraordinary piece of underwater exploration and to remember the 131 people who lost their lives aboard the Tampa.

A truly memorable evening, and a wonderful reminder of just how much history lies beneath the surface of our seas.

A huge thank you to Barbara for sharing this incredible story with us.