ARDANGORM

The SS Ardangorm was a British steamship built in 1919, a product of the post-WWI era of maritime trade. For two decades, it reliably plied the coastal routes of Europe, transporting essential goods like coal. Its service came to an end during the early months of the Second World War, not from enemy action, but from the timeless peril of the sea: fog.

On January 4, 1940, the Ardangorm was on a voyage from Swansea to Rouen, France, with a full cargo of coal. As it navigated the Cornish coast, a dense fog descended, completely obscuring visibility. The vessel lost its bearings and ran hard aground on the notorious Gwineas Rocks, a treacherous reef south of Gorran Haven. The impact sealed the ship's fate, but fortunately, the Fowey lifeboat was able to rescue all 21 crew members before the Ardangorm broke apart under the relentless force of the sea.

Lying in just 10 meters of water, the Ardangorm is now a scattered but fascinating dive site. Decades of storms have flattened the wreck, but its key features, including the large boilers and sections of steel plating, are still easily identifiable. The wreckage is carpeted in marine life, with kelp forests growing over the steel and an abundance of wrasse, pollack, and crabs making their homes in the debris. Its shallow depth makes it an excellent and accessible dive for novices and a perfect second dive of the day for more experienced divers exploring the Cornish coast.