ANTONIO - Cornwall & Devon

The Antonio is a serious dive, a proper piece of history resting deep off Dartmouth. She's a big steamer, 95 metres long, sitting upright and mostly intact on a seabed of 52 metres. Dropping down, the light fades quickly, and the structure starts to resolve out of the gloom. You’ll see the bow first, often pointing into the current, then the whole length of her unfolds as you descend. We love her scale, the way the decks are still recognisable, even after a hundred years down there. This isn’t a rummage dive; it’s about appreciating the sheer presence of a large, deep wreck. Penetration is possible in places, but it's for experienced wreck divers only, and even then, we'd suggest careful planning. You’ll find conger eels lurking in the deeper holds, their thick bodies disappearing into the darkness, and colourful jewel anemones colonising any exposed metalwork. It’s a somber site, knowing ten crew went down with her, and we always feel that weight. Our pick for this wreck is a slack water dive, giving you precious minutes to really take in her scale without fighting the pull. This is one for the deep wreck specialists, rewarding careful planning with a truly immersive dive into maritime history.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.250595, -3.501200
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
52m

Wreck History - ANTONIO

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
mine
Tonnage
2,642 GRT

The SS Antonio was a British steamship built in 1905, a typical merchant vessel of her time. Owned by the Egypt & Levant Steamship Co., she spent her career transporting cargo on vital trade routes. With the outbreak of the First World War, ships like the Antonio became the lifeline of the Allied war effort, but also prime targets for Germany's campaign of unrestricted naval warfare.

On March 7, 1917, while navigating the English Channel, the Antonio's luck ran out. Just seven miles off the relative safety of Dartmouth, she struck a German naval mine laid by a U-boat. The ensuing explosion ripped through the hull, and the ship sank rapidly. The sinking was swift and violent, claiming the lives of the captain and ten of his crew, a tragic reminder of the hidden dangers that lurked beneath the waves even in home waters.

Today, the SS Antonio lies upright and remarkably intact at a depth of 52 meters. She is a classic English Channel technical dive, offering a superb glimpse into the past for experienced, suitably qualified divers. The wreck's superstructure, masts, and deck machinery are still recognizable, though now draped in a beautiful carpet of jewel anemones, hydroids, and dead man's fingers. The dark, deep water and potential for strong currents make this a challenging dive, but the reward is an atmospheric and poignant exploration of a well-preserved WWI casualty.

Marine Protected Area: Skerries Bank and Surrounds

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 ANTONIO

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 ANTONIO

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