THE raising of Henry VIII’s flagship Mary Rose from the depths, broadcast live back in 1982, captured the imagination of the world and led to an award-winning exhibition.

Her remarkably preserved remains have been on show at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for some years, but from this Spring visitors can dive deeper into the experience.

1982 – Dive the Mary Rose, a new 4D immersive theatre experience, will be the biggest expansion of the attraction yet, revealing an untold story of the finding, excavation and recovery of the ship.

With 3D glasses and state-of-the-art CGI, visitors will get the chance to experience what it was like to dive down to the wreckage, and explore the day the ship sank more than four centuries ago.

She sank on July 19, 1545, during the Battle of the Solent, with the loss of some 500 soldiers and sailors, in full view of the French and English fleets – but the invaders were repelled.

The new attraction will tell the stories of all those who were instrumental in bringing her to the surface of The Solent, creating a lasting legacy marking the world’s largest underwater excavation and recovery.

It was on October 11, 1982, that Henry’s favourite ship emerged from the waves. I recall reporting on the event live for the Birmingham Mail, not least because a local company supplied the cradle hoisted by a giant crane.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary last year, the distinctively designed Museum launched a multi-sensory augmented reality game, Time Detectives: The Mystery of the Mary Rose, recreating the sights, sounds – and even the smells – of life on board the ship.

To create the new dive experience, the Mary Rose Trust has partnered with Figment Productions, a digital media production company which has worked with the likes of the National Trust and Royal Opera House.

Both attractions add to the highly acclaimed 1545 – When Their World Ended, an audio-visual walk-through experience opened in 2021 that takes visitors through the history of the ship.

The best value ticket to the Mary Rose Museum is the Ultimate Explorer, giving access to all attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, including HMS Victory and other famous warships.

Admission lasts for a full 12 months, so you can make return visits, with prices frozen for the second year in a row, starting at £39 per adult and £29 per child. Book here.

You can also retrace the footsteps of King Henry VIII, who watched from Southsea Castle as his flagship sank. Built in 1544, the Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by Henry around England’s coasts to protect the country from invaders.

Visitors can explore the Castle’s keep and enjoy panoramic views from the top to the Isle of Wight. For more info head to the Southsea Castle website and to learn more about the area check out Visit Hampshire.