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This paper describes a laboratory study of the effect of immersion in water at pressure on the strength of concrete specimens. Compression and flexure tests were carried out under water pressure and after depressurisation. High water pressure, equivalent to submersion in the ocean at a depth of 6000 metres, damaged the concrete, causing loss of compressive strength and flexural strength. Additional tests suggest that this damage was caused by the mechanical effect of high confinement, rather than by permeation of water. In contrast, at lower water pressures equivalent to submersion at sea depths (below 1000 metres), loss of strength only occurred if the concrete was depressurised, and was a result of water entering the concrete. This paper should be of interest to engineers and designers of ocean systems as well as materials scientists and concrete technologists. The facility described is available for commercial tests. 6 pages.