ANDRIOS

The SS ANDRIOS was a Greek-flagged steamship that navigated the world's oceans in the mid-20th century. Like countless other merchant vessels, her story is one of routine cargo runs punctuated by the constant challenge of unpredictable weather. Her final chapter was written in the notoriously harsh and unforgiving North Sea, a body of water known for testing the mettle of any ship and its crew.

In late February of 1954, the ANDRIOS found itself caught in a violent storm while sailing off the Danish coast. Battered by immense waves and hurricane-force winds, the ship's hull was breached and she began to take on water faster than the pumps could handle. An SOS was sent, and in a remarkable feat of seamanship, the entire 32-person crew was rescued by a German trawler before the ANDRIOS succumbed to the sea and slipped beneath the waves.

Resting at a depth of 30 meters, the ANDRIOS is a classic North Sea wreck dive. The cold, nutrient-rich waters mean the wreck is often covered in a dense carpet of marine growth, including anemones and dead man's fingers. Visibility can be variable, but on a clear day, the ship's large structure is an impressive sight. Divers can expect to encounter large schools of cod and pollock that have made the wreck their home. Classified as a 'non-dangerous wreck', it offers a fantastic and relatively safe opportunity for experienced divers to explore a substantial mid-century cargo ship.