Those taking a trip to the Isle of Wight coast to enjoy the weather got a surprise, when a submarine surfaced earlier today (Friday).

Photos and videos sent to the County Press show the ship rising out of the water.

Islanders were lucky enough to see it off Yarmouth and Gurnard, among other places.

Why the submarine was here remains a mystery, but it has been identified as a Dutch Walrus-class vessel.

It was spotted off the Island via IsleofWight.com's webcam at 12.47pm, and a few hours after that was seen sailing towards Southampton.


Video from IsleofWight.com.

On website Marine Traffic, it is labelled as 'Nato Warship' and its last listed location was off the coast of Plymouth, two days ago.

The County Press contacted NATO to find out why it was here.

A spokesperson for NATO Allied Maritime Command said: "We do not comment on Allied submarine operations."


Video from Simon Slade.

It's not the first time submarines have been spotted off the coast of the Island.

They were seen frequently in years gone by, when Gosport was a submarine base.