AMBIORIX - Cornwall & Devon

The Ambiorix, she’s a proper deep dive, sitting at 55 metres off the Cornish coast. We’re talking about a steamship that went down after a collision in 1917, so there’s a real sense of history here. Drop down, and the wreck emerges from the gloom, a dark silhouette on the seabed. The ship itself, 76 metres long, is largely intact. You can really get a feel for her lines, the bow and stern still well-defined. We love tracing the deck, imagining the crew on board just before she went down. The main draw for us is the penetration opportunities – there are some accessible holds and engine room sections that offer a fantastic delve into the past, provided you’re experienced and properly equipped, of course. What always surprises us is the sheer number of conger eels that call her home. They peer out from every nook and cranny, their heads like thick grey ropes. Lobsters scuttle across the plates, and the entire structure is a tapestry of jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers, glowing under the torch beam. Visibility can be hit or miss, but on a good day, it’s an incredible, haunting dive for technical divers who appreciate a deep, historical wreck with plenty to explore.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
49.996600, -1.088600
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
55m

Wreck History - AMBIORIX

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
collision

The S.S. Ambiorix was a 76-meter Belgian steamship lost during the height of the First World War. Unlike many of her contemporaries, her demise was not the result of enemy action from a U-boat or naval mine. Instead, she sank in the busy shipping lanes off the English coast in December 1917 following a simple but fatal collision. Her loss is a stark reminder of the everyday maritime perils that were magnified by the difficult conditions of wartime, such as sailing in convoys and with restricted lights.

Resting at a depth of 55 meters, the Ambiorix is a deep dive that lies firmly in the realm of technical diving. Requiring trimix and meticulous planning, a visit to this wreck is a serious undertaking rewarded with a view of a largely intact early 20th-century steamship. Divers descending through the deep, often dark, water will find a vessel sitting on the seabed, its holds, superstructure, and engine areas waiting to be explored. The depth and quiet solitude create an atmospheric dive, with the wreck now home to large deep-water species like ling, conger eels, and shoaling pollack.

Marine Protected Area: Dolphin Head Highly Protected Marine Area

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 AMBIORIX

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 AMBIORIX

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