The Enterprise submarine took a dive last week for one of the first times since it stopped being used for tourism more than a decade ago – but this time, she did not come back to the surface.

Police said someone forced their way into the sub, now moored off Grotto Bay in Ferry Reach, and sank it.

Divers have been looking into the incident, which allegedly occurred between 2 p.m. on Monday July 14 and 11 a.m. the next morning.

Police believe the Enterprise was forcibly entered through a secured hatch and some critical valves were tampered with, causing the vessel to sink.

The submarine used to take tourists out to the reef from Dockyard, but has been inactive since 1994, said former owner Harry Soares.

Mr. Soares told The Royal Gazette: "If you're a horse lover or a boat lover there are similarities. It's a special relationship. You always want to make sure that your boat goes to a nice home."

Mr. Soares bought the vessel in 1989 and used it for tourist excursions through the Western Blue Cut until 1994, however the venture was not "financially successful", he admitted.

"It was a phenomenal trip. It was fantastic. For one (thing) was the staff – we had a couple of pilots, Captain Ralph Richardson and Reggie Matthie – and they were just able to take it on a wonderful trip to the shipwreck and close to the reefs.

"People on both sides (of the vessel) had a wonderful view of the reef area."

In 2001 the submarine became a static exhibition at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) for a year, allowing visitors to go on board to look around.

Mr. Richardson, the former Captain and operations manager, said: "I was with it from the day it arrived and for me personally it was one of the most fantastic things I ever did in my life."

The vessel was three dimensional and was certified to go to depths of 200 feet. In its tenure it probably took between 30,000 and 35,000 people underwater, Mr. Richardson said.

As of Wednesday the Enterprise was still underwater and Police were unable to comment on when it would be refloated.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to contact P.c. Christopher Targett at the Marine Unit on 299-4584.

In particular, anyone who saw any activity on the vessel in the past couple of weeks, particularly around the time of Hurricane Bertha, is asked to come forward.