DIVERS are to launch a mission to find two ships which have lain undisturbed at the bottom of Plymouth Sound for centuries.

University of Plymouth staff and students are to hunt for the remains of the Paulsgrove, which sank in 1637, and the Dutton, which was lost in 1796.

The Dutton's sinking became part of maritime folklore when a passer-by helped save nearly 500 people on board in a dramatic rescue which became the subject of a couple of celebrated paintings.

The English East Indiamen Paulsgrove sunk with its cargo of spices and silks from Indonesia.

The team of seven students and four staff will spend a week from Monday exploring an area off Plymouth Hoe and to the east of Drake's Island in an attempt to locate the remains of two wrecks.

Project leader Martin Read, who lectures in the university's School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, said: “Previous work by students from the university using acoustic survey equipment has located several potential targets which might be parts of shipwrecks.” The Dutton was carrying troops to the West Indies and was seeking shelter from a storm in the Cattewater when she hit Mount Batten reef and crashed into Plymouth Hoe.

The rescue of the passengers and crew of the Dutton is captured in a painting in Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery by Nicholas Pocock. It was also painted by Thomas Luny in 1821.

Mr Read said: “The story of the rescue from the Dutton is a heroic tale. Captain Edward Pellew was driving past in his carriage and saw the ship being battered against Plymouth Hoe.

“He took charge of the situation and saved almost everybody, nearly 500 people. As a result of his actions he was given the freedom of the city and made a baronet, ending up as an admiral and a viscount.

“More recently, CS Forester used him as one of the heroic characters in his Hornblower series of books, which were partly filmed for TV in and around Plymouth.”

The Paulsgrove was owned by the rich and powerful East India Company. It was one of the company's largest ships and was returning from what is now Indonesia with a valuable cargo of silks and spices.

She ran into difficulties and was driven ashore at Drake's Island.

One person with her fingers crossed for the recovery of the Dutton is Justyna Fenous, owner of the café in Madeira Road which now bears the ship's name.

She said: “I hope they find it and it would be great to find out what happened to this ship.”

Students are taught to dive as part of their studies on a range of courses in Science and Technology at the University of Plymouth – the only university to offer this in the UK.

Students who satisfactorily complete the course will qualify as Health and Safety Executive-recognised professional divers allowing them to work underwater when they have graduated. The survey is being supported by 3H Consulting Ltd.