APARIMA - Cornwall & Devon

The Aparima is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. She’s a big liner, over 130 metres, sitting upright in about 38 metres. We love that you can really get a sense of her scale as you descend, the deck structures looming out of the murk. It’s a proper expedition, certainly not one for a quick splash. The stern is our favourite part; the huge propellers are still there, often swarming with pollack. You’ll find plenty of conger eels tucked into every nook and cranny, and the deeper sections are usually home to big ling. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is off the Cornish coast. We’d suggest aiming for slack water on a neap tide for the best chance of a clear run, allowing you to properly explore the promenade decks and cargo holds. It’s a challenging dive, best suited to experienced wreck divers comfortable with depth and navigating larger structures, but the reward is a truly magnificent piece of history.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.490135, -1.918500
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
38m

Wreck History - APARIMA

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
5,704 GRT

Built in 1902, the SS Aparima served the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand as a passenger and cargo liner on the route between Calcutta and Australasia. A modern vessel for her time, she was powered by twin triple-expansion steam engines and could carry passengers, general cargo, and even prized racehorses in comfort and style. With the outbreak of the First World War, the Aparima was requisitioned for the war effort and converted into a troopship, tasked with transporting soldiers far from her usual commercial routes.

Her wartime service came to a tragic end on November 19, 1917. While sailing in the English Channel, she was spotted by the German U-boat UB-40. A single torpedo struck the Aparima in the engine room, causing catastrophic damage. The ship sank in less than ten minutes, taking 54 of her crew members with her. It was a sudden and violent end for the elegant liner, becoming another casualty of the intense submarine warfare in the waters around the United Kingdom.

Today, the wreck of the Aparima rests upright on a sandy seabed at 38 meters. It is a popular but challenging dive, often subject to strong currents and limited visibility. Divers who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a largely intact early 20th-century steamship. The bow and stern remain impressive, and amidships, the massive boilers and engines stand as a testament to her power. The wreck is a poignant memorial, offering a direct connection to the maritime history of WWI.

Marine Protected Area: Albert Field

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 APARIMA

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 APARIMA

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