ALICE MARIE - Cornwall & Devon

The *Alice Marie* is one of those wrecks that just keeps giving, particularly if you appreciate a bit of history beneath the waves. Lying at 31 metres, she’s a proper dive, best suited for those comfortable with deeper conditions and perhaps a bit of current. We often head here in late summer when the visibility can stretch to a decent 10-15 metres, making the huge boiler room a real highlight to explore. What we love about the *Alice Marie* is her intact structure. You can trace the lines of the triple-expansion engine, imagining the effort of her crew before she went down in 1917. Around the stern, we’ve often found conger eels poking their heads out, thick as a diver's thigh, and the deck plating is absolutely carpeted with jewel anemones, shimmering orange and pink in your torch beam. It’s a proper old girl, colonised beautifully by the sea, offering a tangible link to Cornwall’s maritime past.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.283924, -3.522032
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
31m

Wreck History - ALICE MARIE

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
2,203 GRT

The SS Alice Marie was a 2,203-ton British steamship built in 1915, during the height of the First World War. She was put to work immediately, braving the perilous waters of the Atlantic to transport vital supplies. On December 19, 1917, while on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain, to Newport, Wales with a cargo of iron ore, her luck ran out. She was spotted by the German submarine UB-55, which was prowling the shipping lanes off the Cornish coast. A single torpedo struck the Alice Marie, sealing her fate and sending her and her valuable cargo to the bottom of the sea.

Lying at a depth of 31 meters, the wreck of the Alice Marie is a poignant reminder of the Great War's naval conflict. The dive is suited for advanced recreational divers, who are rewarded with the sight of a substantial early 20th-century freighter. Key features, such as her two large boilers and the triple-expansion engine, stand proud from the wreckage, now heavily colonized by marine life. Exploring the remains of the Alice Marie is a journey back in time, offering a direct, tangible connection to a critical moment in world history.

Marine Protected Area: Slapton Ley

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 ALICE MARIE

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 ALICE MARIE

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