AMIRAL ZEDE

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Morte Platform

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - AMIRAL ZEDE offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 46m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Amiral Zede is a deep one, a proper expedition dive, but for us, absolutely worth the commitment. Dropping onto her takes you to 46 metres, so this isn't for the faint-hearted or new deep divers. What you find down there, though, is a huge steamship, over 120 metres long, upright and largely intact, a real marvel considering she’s been down since 1917. We love exploring her vast holds, peering into the gloom, and tracing the outline of her collapsed mast. Visibility here can swing, but on a good day, the scale of the Zede is breathtaking, the sheer bulk of her silhouetted against the lighter water above. Conger eels the size of your thigh lurk in every dark crevice, and plumose anemones, often in vibrant pinks and oranges, carpet sections of the superstructure. Our favourite tip? Go on slack water. The currents here can be fierce, making the descent and ascent a real challenge, but get it right and you’ve got time to really soak in this magnificent wreck. It's a dive that stays with you, a truly memorable deep wreck experience.

Typical AMIRAL ZEDE 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 46m 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.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:3517:3611h 1m daylightGolden hour 16:51

AMIRAL ZEDE Wreck History

Year Sunk

1917

Vessel Type

cargo ship

Cause

torpedo

Built in 1912 at the renowned French shipyard Chantiers et Ateliers de St. Nazaire, the AMIRAL ZEDE was a steamship owned by the Chargeurs Reunis shipping line. For five years, she plied the trade routes, a workhorse of the seas. However, her service coincided with the height of World War I, a time of immense peril for merchant shipping. On November 19, 1917, while on a voyage from Newport, her luck ran out. Like so many other vessels in the English Channel during this period, she was attacked and sunk by a German U-boat, becoming another casualty of the unrestricted submarine warfare campaign.

Lying at a depth of 46 meters in the waters between Cornwall and Devon, the AMIRAL ZEDE is now a classic WWI wreck dive for experienced technical divers. The depth and challenging conditions of the English Channel mean that a visit to this wreck requires careful planning. Those who make the descent are rewarded with a view of a vessel steeped in history, its decaying form a silent testament to the Great War. The wreck is a substantial and fascinating site, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in 20th-century history.