AENEAS (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

Alright, the Aeneas. Or probably the Aeneas, anyway. We’re still waiting for someone to put a definitive name to her, but we’re pretty sure this is the Blue Funnel Liner. And what a find she is. Dropping down to 53 metres, this isn't one for your open water cert, but for experienced tech divers, she’s a proper challenge. Built in Belfast in 1910, this 150-metre steamship met her end in 1940, torpedoed on a journey from Hong Kong to Glasgow. She lies on her starboard side, largely intact, which is what we love about her. The stern offers some incredible swim-throughs, the massive twin screws still prominent, often shrouded in schooling bib. Down in the engine room, if you’ve got the gas and the skills, the triple-expansion engines are a truly impressive sight. We’ve found conger eels tucked into every corner, and the sheer scale of the cargo holds, even empty, gives you a real sense of her former life. Visibility can be hit or miss, typical for the UK, but on a good day, the light filtering down through the superstructure is something else. Our top tip? Pick your slack tide perfectly; currents here can be fierce. She's a dark, deep dive, but for those who respect her depth, the Aeneas delivers a fantastic wreck experience.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.324722, -2.228750
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
53m

Wreck History - AENEAS (PROBABLY)

Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
bombed
Tonnage
10,058 GRT

Built in 1910 by Workman, Clark & Co. in Belfast for Alfred Holt's prestigious Blue Funnel Line, the SS Aeneas was a 10,058-ton passenger-cargo liner. For three decades, she plied the trade routes between Great Britain and the Far East, a reliable and elegant vessel of her time. With the outbreak of World War II, she was called into service, continuing her vital transport duties under the constant threat of enemy action.

In early July 1940, while sailing in a convoy from Hong Kong to Glasgow, the Aeneas was spotted by German aircraft approximately 21 miles off Start Point. She was targeted and hit by bombs, sustaining critical damage. The ship fought to stay afloat but eventually broke in two and sank over a period of two days. The split created two separate wreck sites, with the main section settling on the seabed apart from the stern.

Today, this site is believed to be the main section of the Aeneas, resting in 53 meters of water. This is a serious undertaking, a deep dive for experienced technical and trimix divers only. The wreck is vast and, while it has collapsed considerably over eight decades, it remains an impressive sight. Divers can identify key features like her powerful triple-expansion engines and twin-screw propulsion system, a testament to the engineering of a bygone era.

Marine Protected Area: South Dorset

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 AENEAS (PROBABLY)

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 AENEAS (PROBABLY)

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