ANDROMEDA

The ANDROMEDA was a majestic four-masted steel barque, a powerful relic from the golden age of sail. Built in 1890 in Port Glasgow, she represented the pinnacle of commercial sailing vessel design, capable of carrying huge cargoes across the globe. Her final voyage was a testament to her purpose, having sailed all the way from Tacoma, Washington, laden with a cargo of wheat, and bound for the historic port of Falmouth in Cornwall.

After months at sea and having successfully navigated thousands of miles, the ANDROMEDA was tantalizingly close to her destination. On February 13, 1915, while awaiting the pilot to guide her into Falmouth's safe harbor, a sudden and ferocious southerly gale struck. The wind and waves drove the huge vessel helplessly towards the shore, and she was wrecked upon the rocks of Killigerran Head. In a dramatic rescue, the Falmouth lifeboat battled the storm to save the entire crew from the doomed ship.

Lying in just 6 meters of water, the ANDROMEDA is now one of the most accessible wreck sites in Cornwall. Its shallow depth makes it an ideal location for novice divers, trainees, and even snorkelers. The force of the storm and over a century of wave action have left the wreck completely broken up. Divers can spend a long, relaxed dive exploring the scattered steel plates, ribs, and other remnants of the once-proud ship, which are now encrusted with marine life and provide a home for wrasse, crabs, and lobsters. The ample sunlight at this depth makes it a bright and fascinating introduction to wreck diving.