BARON GARIOCH - Cornwall & Devon

The Baron Garioch sits in around 35 meters, a proper deep dive for those comfortable with the depth and the chill of UK waters. She was a steamship, torpedoed in 1917, and her story adds a real weight to the dive. We love that she's still largely intact, giving you a proper wreck to explore rather than just scattered debris. Dropping down, the bow section is often the first thing you pick out of the gloom, usually swathed in shoals of pouting and bib. Our favourite part has to be the midships, where the triple-expansion engine still stands proud. You can often swim through some of the holds, feeling the cool water press in as you navigate the shadows, always keeping an eye out for conger eels tucked into crevices. The stern tapers away, sometimes revealing a propeller blade encrusted with dead man's fingers. Visibility can vary wildly here, from a glorious 15 metres to a more typical 5 metres, so be prepared for a real UK wreck experience. It’s a dive that rewards careful exploration, suited to advanced divers keen on history and the atmospheric beauty of a century-old steel ghost.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.523483, -1.763783
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
35m

Wreck History - BARON GARIOCH

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The SS Baron Garioch was a British steamship built in 1895. An aging but still capable vessel, she was powered by a classic triple-expansion engine and served dutifully in the merchant fleet. During World War I, ships like the Baron Garioch were the lifeline of Great Britain, transporting essential goods and materials under the constant threat of attack.

On October 28, 1917, that threat became a reality. While sailing in ballast from Calais to Glasgow, the Baron Garioch was spotted by a German U-boat off the coast of Cornwall. A torpedo struck the vessel, and she sank beneath the waves, a casualty of the unrestricted submarine warfare that defined the conflict at sea. The attack was swift and brutal, tragically resulting in the loss of two crew members.

Resting at a depth of 35 meters, the Baron Garioch is now a fascinating wreck dive. The 80-meter-long vessel is broken but its key features, including the prominent boilers and the impressive triple-expansion engine, remain intact and stand proud of the seabed. Exploring the wreckage provides a poignant reminder of the Great War's toll on civilian shipping and offers a rewarding dive for those interested in history and marine life, with conger eels and lobsters often found amongst the debris.

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 BARON GARIOCH

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 BARON GARIOCH

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