BALVENIE (POSSIBLY)

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Lundy

Why dive here

With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - BALVENIE (POSSIBLY) offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 176+ species recorded

Water10-18°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 53m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Balvenie, or what we strongly suspect is the Balvenie, is a proper technical dive, and one we always look forward to. At 53 metres, you're deep enough that the light takes on that ethereal blue, a real sense of being somewhere remote. It’s a steamship, built in 1911, and she went down in 1916. You can still make out the triple expansion engine, the single boiler, and the shaft. We love dropping down to see the bow pointing purposefully into the current, often adorned with sea fans and dead men's fingers, a ghostly reminder of her original journey from Glasgow. The structure itself is still pretty intact in places, a testament to its robust build. You'll find plenty of inquisitive bib and pollack darting through the holds, and often a grumpy conger eel peering out from a dark corner. Our favourite part is navigating the upper decks, seeing where the ocean has reclaimed the metal, creating new homes. This site really suits experienced wreck divers who appreciate the history and the challenging depth. It’s a proper expedition, not a casual dip. We'd suggest aiming for a slack tide window; those currents off the Cornish coast can be swift.

Typical BALVENIE (POSSIBLY) Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Maximum depth 53m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:3617:3711h 1m daylightGolden hour 16:52

BALVENIE (POSSIBLY) Wreck History

Year Sunk

1916

Vessel Type

cargo ship

Cause

torpedo

The SS Balvenie was a British steamship built in 1911 by the Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co. For five years, she served as a typical merchant vessel, but the outbreak of World War I placed her in constant peril. In July 1916, while on a passage from Glasgow to St. Nazaire carrying a general cargo, she was sailing through the vital shipping lanes of the English Channel. It was here, during the height of Germany's U-boat campaign, that she was targeted and sunk by a torpedo.

Resting at a depth of 53 meters, the Balvenie is now a dive for experienced and technically-certified divers. The depth has helped preserve the wreck from the worst of the currents and storm damage. Divers descending on the site can explore a classic WWI-era steamer, its hull and machinery offering a poignant glimpse into the maritime conflict that sent thousands of similar ships to the seabed. The wreck serves as a memorial to the merchant mariners who risked everything to keep supply lines open during the war.