The Aeolian Sky was a big modern freighter, with the superstructure and engines at the rear and four massive holds separated by equally massive masts and cargo derricks.
Depending on how you think about it, the Sky is a fairly recent wreck - she went down in the same year I did my first open water dive. I didn't dive the Aeolian Sky then, but over the years I have seen bare patches of paint work erode and become covered with dense carpets of hydroids and the structure of the wreck slowly collapse to its present half intact state.
If you are new to the Sky, the superstructure will keep you plenty busy enough for at least one dive. There is easy access to companionways and cabins with open hatches and large windows to swim through. Just use a bit of common sense about which areas are safe to swim through depending on the visibility.
Being a modern ship, the funnel is just a decorative cover for an exhaust pipe from the engine. It has broken at the base and provides one means of access to the engine room. Other access routes are available through nearby doorways. With good visibility, caution and a reel it is possible to penetrate straight "down" past various bits of auxilary machinery to the engine itself.
Behind the superstructure there is a surprisingly large area of stern deck dominated by a large winch with cable still wound to it. Over the stern the rudder rests folded towards the seabed at 30 metres, but the propeller was salvaged soon after the ship went down.
One of the cabins just below the funnel was the sick bay. I don't know exactly which cabin, but I always have a look because when the Aeolian Sky went down there were several million pounds worth of Seychelles Rupees stored in strong boxes in the sick bay.
Initial salvage efforts soon after the sinking were concentrated on recovering these banknotes, with commercial divers and police diving teams involved. The strong boxes were never found, though a fair selection of notes were found "washed up". I say that in quotes because there are always rumours of an anonymous local diver who got there first!
Forward of the superstructure, the upper starboard side of the hull has collapsed considerably towards the seabed. Piled on the seabed is the first sign of the heavy steel pipe that must have formed a significant part of the cargo.
Mid way along the holds, an enormous winch is followed by mast a good 3 metres in diameter. It is worth swimming out to the top of this mast to view the gantry and pulleys with cargo derricks resting on the seabed either side of the mast.
Forward of the mast is another winch and a bigger pile of steel pipe. Following this wreckage close to the seabed brings you to another pair of more normally proportioned masts followed by one of the more interesting pieces of cargo - a Landrover chassis.
The Aeolian Sky was carrying a number of Landrovers, dumper trucks, tractors and other vehicles. Before the hull collapsed to its current state many more of these were easily accessible in the holds. Exploring inside the holds now is a much more serious undertaking.
The bow of the wreck is intact and twisted forwards. Towards the keel a large bow bulge rests against the seabed at 30 metres. Forward of the bow is the double rear axle assembly of a truck chassis. Lower down the bow is pointed, but above the waterline it spreads to a wide curve at deck level rising as shallow as just 20 metres.
The starboard anchor is still in place, resting against the hull. It is much larger than that found on most wartime wrecks, suitably sized for a large modern freighter. The taught anchor chain leads from the top of the hawse pipe to an anchor winch that spans the width of the bow.