AALESUND (POSSIBLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The *Aalesund* is a proper historical wreck, and we reckon it’s one of the best deeper dives in this part of Cornwall. Dropping down onto her at 37 metres, you hit an iron hull that’s surprisingly intact for a ship sunk in 1918. We love the way the light filters through the superstructure, creating these moody shadows around the single boiler, which stands proud and really gives you a sense of her scale. Exploration is the name of the game here. You can pick your way along her 44.5-metre length, peering into cargo holds now colonised by thick carpets of plumose anemones – pure white against the dark iron. Our favourite detail is the triple-expansion engine, a marvel of turn-of-the-century engineering, now home to inquisitive conger eels. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with schools of pollack swirling around the bow, and occasionally a curious grey seal will pop by for a look. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts, offering a respectful peek into maritime history and a chance to truly immerse yourself in a thriving artificial reef.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.396984, -1.394067
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
37m

Wreck History - AALESUND (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1918
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The iron-hulled steamship Aalesund was built in 1890 in Stavanger, Norway, and served as a merchant vessel for the Norwegian company Dampsk. Akties. Its career came to a violent end during the height of World War I. On January 23, 1918, while sailing off the coast of Cornwall, the neutral Norwegian vessel was attacked and sunk, almost certainly by a torpedo from a German U-boat. This was a common fate for neutral shipping in the unrestricted submarine warfare campaign of the time.

Resting at a depth of 37 meters, the Aalesund is now a classic UK wreck dive for advanced and technical divers. The ship is well-preserved for its age, with key features like its single boiler and triple-expansion engine still identifiable. Exploring the iron hull, divers can witness over a century of colonization by marine life, including colorful anemones and schools of fish that have made the historic vessel their home. The depth and conditions require proper training and equipment, but the reward is a fascinating dive into maritime history.

Marine Protected Area: Wight-Barfleur Reef

Best Time to Dive in Cornwall & Devon

The warmest water temperatures in Cornwall & Devon occur in January, averaging 9.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 9.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 9.6°C (air: 7.3°C)
  • February: 9.6°C (air: 8.4°C)
  • March: 9.6°C (air: 8.6°C)
  • April: 9.6°C (air: 10.1°C)
  • May: 9.6°C (air: 12.6°C)
  • June: 9.6°C (air: 15.2°C)
  • July: 9.6°C (air: 16.6°C)
  • August: 9.6°C (air: 17.1°C)
  • September: 9.6°C (air: 15.9°C)
  • October: 9.6°C (air: 13.5°C)
  • November: 9.6°C (air: 10.7°C)
  • December: 9.6°C (air: 8.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cornwall & Devon

Nearest Dive Centres to AALESUND (POSSIBLY)

Marine Life in Cornwall & Devon

Home to 192 recorded species including 93 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 13 whales & dolphins, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for AALESUND (POSSIBLY)

Based on average water temperature of 9.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 10°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories