BROADHURST (PROBABLY)
Protected Area
Kingmere
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) - BROADHURST (PROBABLY) offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The *Broadhurst* is one of those wrecks that really gets under your skin. Lying deep at 57m off the coast of Shoreham, it is a proper technical dive, but the reward is a beautiful piece of history. We’ve always been drawn to wrecks that tell a story, and the *Broadhurst*, torpedoed by an E-boat in 1940, definitely does. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer scale. It is a steel hull, still largely intact, with a huge boiler and triple expansion engine dominating the midships. We love navigating the cavernous holds, imagining the cargo it once carried. Keep an eye out for conger eels, they’ve made a real home here, sometimes peering out from surprising nooks. Our favourite part has to be the stern, often swarming with schools of pollack, their silver scales glinting in the beam of your torch. The *Broadhurst* is for experienced technical divers who appreciate historical wrecks and aren't afraid of the depth. It’s a quiet, reflective dive, a journey back in time.
Typical BROADHURST (PROBABLY) 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 57m 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.
BROADHURST (PROBABLY) Wreck History
Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
1,015 GRT
The SS Broadhurst was a British steam collier, a workhorse of the coastal trade, transporting coal from the mines in Seaham down to Shoreham-by-Sea. On July 26, 1940, while on this routine passage, she fell victim to a new and deadly threat in the English Channel: the German E-boat. These fast torpedo boats would launch lightning-fast raids under the cover of darkness.
The Broadhurst was struck by a torpedo and sank quickly, with the tragic loss of four of her crew. Lying at a depth of 57 metres, this wreck is strictly for experienced technical divers with the necessary training and equipment for deep, decompression diving. For those qualified to make the descent, the wreck is a sombre and fascinating time capsule. At this depth, she is likely to be more intact than her shallower counterparts, offering a glimpse of a typical coastal steamer, complete with its boiler and triple-expansion engine, now silent on the seabed.
Nearest Dive Centres to BROADHURST (PROBABLY)
Dive shops near BROADHURST (PROBABLY)
Ocean View
Abyss Scuba School
Mulberry Marine Experiences CIC
Sussex Diving & Leisure
Reviews for BROADHURST (PROBABLY)
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BROADHURST (PROBABLY)
BROADHURST (PROBABLY) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BROADHURST (PROBABLY), sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (50.44, -2.73) (3km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
17°C
62°F · Range: 15.1–17.5°C
Air Temperature
13°C
56°F
Wind Speed
8.14 m/s
15.8 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1011 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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