ATLAS (PROBABLY) - Cornwall & Devon

The Atlas, or what we’re pretty sure is the Atlas, sits upright at 40 metres, a proper deep dive that’ll test your gas planning. We love a good mystery, and the identity of this wreck has kept local divers guessing for years, adding a cool layer of intrigue to an already impressive site. She’s a decent sized steamship, 66 metres long, and while the superstructure is largely gone, her bones are still very much there, laid out on the seabed. You’ll drop down onto the bow, often seeing some impressive conger eels poking out from the plates. Moving aft, the single boiler is a real focal point, and the triple expansion engine stands proud, a ghostly monument to a bygone era of steam. The visibility can be hit or miss, typical of the Channel, but when it’s good, you can make out the scale of the wreck from above, schools of pouting swarming the deck like a living cloud. Our advice? Hit this on a slack tide, obviously, but also look for a day with minimal surface chop – that’ll make the whole descent and ascent a lot more comfortable. It’s a dive for those comfortable with depth and who appreciate a proper historical wreck, not just the critters, though the critters are certainly here.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.577070, -0.549333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
40m

Wreck History - ATLAS (PROBABLY)

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
1,173 GRT

Built in Frederikstad, Norway, in 1896, the steamship Atlas was a Norwegian vessel pressed into service for the Allied cause during World War I. By 1917, she was operating under the control of the British Shipping Controller, a wartime measure to manage merchant shipping. On November 13, 1917, while navigating the English Channel off the coast of Cornwall, she crossed paths with the German U-boat UC-51. The resulting torpedo attack was swift and fatal.

Today, the wreck of the Atlas rests at 40 metres, making it an excellent deep air or entry-level trimix dive. Located in an area rich with maritime history, the wreck is a popular site for local divers. Its modest size allows for a comprehensive tour on a single dive, where explorers can identify key features like its single boiler and triple-expansion engine. The Atlas offers a compelling and accessible window into the relentless U-boat campaign that defined the war at sea.

Marine Protected Area: Offshore Overfalls

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 ATLAS (PROBABLY)

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 ATLAS (PROBABLY)

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