BRUNHILDA - Cornwall & Devon

The Brunhilda is a proper diver's wreck, a chunky steamship that sits upright and intact on the seabed, around 56 meters down. When we say intact, we mean it. You can follow her deck from bow to stern, spotting the giant boilers and the triple expansion engine still standing proud amidships. It’s the sheer scale and level of preservation that really hits you. Dropping down through the gloom, the wreck slowly resolves itself, an enormous shadow emerging from the deep blue. We've spent dives just navigating her length, poking around the holds where crabs scuttle in the sediment. The stern is our favourite spot, often shrouded in schooling bib and pollack, with conger eels peering out from gaps in the plating. This is a technical dive, absolutely, but for those with the training, it’s a genuinely rewarding experience. Dive her on a calm day, slack water, and you’ll get to appreciate the history she holds without battling a current.

Location
Cornwall & Devon, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
50.243217, -3.474750
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
56m

Wreck History - BRUNHILDA

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The SS Brunhilda was a British steamship built in 1901 by the renowned William Gray & Co. shipyard in West Hartlepool. For over a decade, she served as a typical merchant freighter of her time, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine and transporting goods across the seas. When World War I broke out, she, like thousands of other civilian vessels, was pressed into the vital service of keeping Britain supplied, operating under the constant threat of German naval power.

Her service came to a violent end on July 11, 1917. While on passage from Falmouth, she was targeted by the German submarine UC-47. Struck by a torpedo, the Brunhilda sank beneath the waves, becoming another victim of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign which aimed to cripple the Allied war effort by starving them of resources.

Resting at a depth of 56 meters, the Brunhilda is now a classic deep wreck dive for experienced technical divers. She sits upright and is largely intact, offering a spectacular sight as she emerges from the gloom. Divers can explore her superstructure, peer into the cargo holds, and marvel at the two large boilers and the impressive triple-expansion engine, which stands proud amidships. The depth and conditions make this a challenging dive, but one that rewards with a perfectly preserved piece of World War I history.

Marine Protected Area: Skerries Bank and Surrounds

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 BRUNHILDA

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 BRUNHILDA

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