Binnendijk

Binnendijk is the wreck of a 7,000-ton Dutch Holland America Line steamship lying off the Shambles Bank, near Portland Bill, at 27–28 m. Bound for Rotterdam from New York in September 1939, she struck a German magnetic mine, caught fire from stem to stern, and sank — though all hands were rescued. The wreck was subsequently dispersed by explosives and is now well broken up overall, with her bow oriented to the south-east; substantial hull sections still stand up to 6 m above the seabed, the stern being the most intact section. The site is subject to shifting sands and shell from the bank, so conditions can vary noticeably between dives.

The broken structure has developed into an extended artificial reef, providing habitat for lobster, spider crabs, conger eels, and tompot blennies.

Sheltered by Portland Bill and the Shambles Bank, Binnendijk is often diveable when other sites in the area are blown out. The site is listed at sports-diver level with depth progression, consistent with the 27–28 m maximum depth.