APARIMA

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.