ANTONY
Protected Area
Hook Head SAC
Why dive here
With 185+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - ANTONY offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 9°C.
The Antony is one of those deep wrecks off the South Coast that really gets our attention. We’re talking about a proper steamer, 127 metres of history sitting at 53 metres. Dropping down, even on a day with decent visibility, you feel the depth, the slight chill that tells you this isn't a casual drift. We love feeling that scale, the superstructure looming into view, a dark shape becoming something immense. What makes the Antony special for us is its sheer size and how much of it is still identifiable. You can trace the bow, move along the deck, imagine the two triple-expansion engines and five boilers within her guts. We’ve found the stern holds are often buzzing with conger eels – big, inquisitive heads poking out from the shadows. The currents here can be stiff, so pick your slack carefully. Best to get a local skipper who knows the tides inside out. It's a dive for experienced deep divers, no question, but for those who love a serious wreck, the Antony is an absolute classic. The sense of history, the sheer bulk of steel on the seabed, it’s a powerful experience.
Typical ANTONY Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 53m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 9°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
ANTONY Wreck History
Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
6,446 GRT
The SS Antony was a handsome passenger and cargo liner built in 1907 for the renowned Booth Steamship Company. For a decade, she plied the vital trade route between Liverpool and South America, carrying passengers and goods on long voyages to ports in Brazil and as far inland as Iquitos, Peru, over 2,000 miles up the Amazon River. She was a vital link in a global network, known for her reliability and service.
Her peaceful career was cut short by the escalating conflict of World War I. On March 17, 1917, while outbound from Liverpool, the Antony was torpedoed without warning by the German submarine U-62. The attack occurred just 19 nautical miles from the Coningbeg Lightship off the Irish coast. The explosion was devastating, and the ship sank with the tragic loss of 55 lives, a stark reminder of the U-boat menace in the Atlantic.
Today, the wreck of the SS Antony lies in over 50 metres of water, making her a serious and rewarding dive for experienced technical divers. The vessel is a substantial size, and while time and the sea have taken their toll, her large boilers and triple-expansion engines are still recognisable features. Exploring this deep wreck is a journey back in time, offering a poignant connection to a lost era of ocean travel and a tribute to those who perished in the Great War.
Reviews for ANTONY
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ANTONY
ANTONY Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ANTONY, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (51.55, -8.99) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
8.81°C
48°F
Air Temperature
15.85°C
61°F
Wind Speed
6.71 m/s
13.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.5 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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