Facebook Marketplace typically has a variety of listings, ranging from clothing and electronics to jewelry and home goods. But a UK man recently made an outlandish buy a World War I shipwreck for only 300 pounds (approximately Rs 34,000) on the site. As reported by the BBC, Dom Robinson was amazed to see the SS Almond Branch, a 3,300-tonne cargo vessel 330 feet in length, up for sale online and immediately ordered it because of its historic value.
Robinson, a diving expert and shipwreck historian, was ecstatic about the discovery. The SS Almond Branch had disappeared on November 27, 1917, when it was allegedly torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Cornwall. It had since been lying on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sharing his excitement, Robinson told the BBC, “I just went along & kind of kicked the tyres and I sucked my teeth, and I knew what it was.” He confirmed the identity of the wreck by diving off Dodman Point before finalising the purchase.
Although Robinson does not plan to sell the wreck, he expressed interest in retrieving the ship’s bell. He added, “It does sort of feel slightly different when you are diving a wreck, and you think that you do have an ownership of it. So, if anyone does find the bell, they must report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who will seek my opinion on whether I wish to retain it or not. And, if they do find the bell, then of course, hands off my bell.”
A Plymouth project manager, Robinson, became interested in underwater discovery at a young age. Throughout his 30-year diving career, he has discovered 20 to 25 wrecks. The 53-year-old logs his finds on his YouTube channel, which he has attracted over 9,000 subscribers to.
