Diving trips to the Scylla are booked up for the next two weekends

The surge in interest has come about because of the sinking of the warship HMS Scylla off the Cornish coast.

The boat was scuttled off Whitsand Bay on Saturday to provide Europe's first artificial diving reef.

Diving operators report no spaces left on any expedition to Scylla for the next two weekends.

The sinking of the Leander Class frigate, using a series of controlled explosions, was watched by thousands of people.

HMS Scylla sank after a series of controlled explosions

The vessel is now being colonized by local species of fish and marine life.

It will be monitored by experts at Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium using underwater cameras attached to the ship.

Scylla is attracting lots of diving enthusiasts to the South West, with the Easter holidays set to be a particularly busy time.

While diving operators are full for the next two weekends, they do have places available for midweek dives.