Local Wrecks
Thanks to its position in the English Channel, there are a huge number of wrecks off the South West Coast - not all are diveable, and some are only suitable for divers with deep and / or technical qualification. These are some of the more commonly dived wrecks in Lyme Bay. JCD also frequently dive out of Fort Bovisand, Plymouth.
The Galicia.
A 5922-ton British ship, built of steel in 1901. On 12th May 1917 she was going from London to Valparaiso with a cargo of cloth and cement, plus some ammunition to be delivered to Jamaica. On the way she was hit by a mine laid by one of the German UC class submarines off Teignmouth. As she slipped underwater her crew were landed safely at Torquay. She now lies on a sandy bed at 18 metres and is very broken up. The wreck site is spread over a large area, the highest point is at 15 metres. There is a lot of life living on and around the wreck including wrasse, conger eels, lobsters and unique to this area; pink sea fans. This can be a good night dive.
The Bretagne.
On 10th August 1918 the Bretagne, a schooner rigged steel steamer, was struck by the French steamer Rene Marthe. The Bretagne received a severe blow to her starboard side, the crew abandoned ship as water lapped onto the deck, and then the boat nose-dived to the bottom. Now she sits upright on the bottom, 232ft long with a beam of 35ft, a small ship but when visibility is good - and it can be superb- she is a first class dive. The depth to her deck is 18 metres and it is 25 metres to the shingle seabed.
More information can be found on Divernet's Wreck Tour for the Bretagne - Click here!
Lord Stewart.
This wreck, an armed merchantman of 1445-tons, lies completely upright on the seabed and you can see the damage on the starboard side where a torpedo struck her amidships on 16th September 1918. The 248ft ship lies in 36 metres and stands 9 metres proud.
More information can be found on Divernet's Wreck Tour for the Lord Stewart - Click here!
Boma.
A 2694-ton British ship heading for St. Helens on the Isle Of Wight from Belfast with a cargo of potatoes, hay and straw. She was torpedoed on 11th June 1918, the crew took to the boats and landed in Torquay, the Boma sank to a hard, fine sand bed at 32 metres. Her bows are still intact but her 312ft hull is badly broken. The highest point of the wreck is at 19 metres.
Gefion.
On 25th October 1917, the Gefion was torpedoed; the torpedo killed the master and a seaman. She lies in a depth of 32 metres, it is 25 metres to the highest point of the wreck. The Gefion is broken amidships, the bow lies on its port side, the engines are all visible and so are the boilers.
More information can be found on Divernet's Wreck Tour for the Lord Stewart - Click here!
Perrone.
This 3342-ton steamer was 320ft long with a beam of 42ft. She was torpedoed, all 36 crew managed to take to the boats before she sank. She now lies 8 metres proud of a 32 metre sea bed and is badly broken.
Glocliffe.
A steamship that was torpedoed in an attack that killed tow of her crew. The wreck is largely intact and lies on her port side. There is a gun, which is mounted on the port side of the stern. She lies on hard sand at 42 metres, with the shallowest point at 34 metres.
More information can be found on Divernet's Wreck Tour for the Glocliffe - Click here!
Chateau Yquem.
A French steamer, of 1,913 tons. She was traveling from Dunkirk to Barry in ballast, when torpedoed on the 30th June 1917. She sits upright at 44metres standing 16metres proud. Bow and stern are in good condition, much of the wooden decking can still be seen.
HMS Empress of India.
At 15.585-tons this ship is the largest that can be dived in south Devon waters. She was used as a gunnery target and sunk in 1913. The wreck lies upside down and has been rated as a 'fabulous' dive. The depth to the keel is just under 30 metres and it is 44 metres to the sea bed.
More information can be found on Divernet's Wreck Tour for the Empress - Click here!
