CAIRNDHU

The SS Cairndhu was a British steamship built in 1911 for the Cairn Line. Like so many other merchant vessels, it was pressed into service during the First World War, braving the perilous, U-boat-infested waters to transport essential supplies. On April 15, 1917, while on a voyage from South Shields to Gibraltar carrying a cargo of coal, its luck ran out. The Cairndhu was spotted by the German submarine SM UB-40, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans Howaldt. A single torpedo sealed the ship's fate, sending it to the bottom of the English Channel.

Located in 23 meters of water, the Cairndhu is now a popular and fascinating wreck dive off the coast of Cornwall. The wreck is significantly broken up, a testament to the force of the torpedo and over a century spent on the seabed. Despite this, its main features, including the boilers and the triple-expansion engine, are still clearly visible and provide a focal point for the dive. The scattered plates and ribs of the hull have created an ideal artificial reef, attracting an abundance of marine life. Divers can expect to see schools of bib, pollack, and wrasse, as well as conger eels and lobsters seeking shelter in the wreckage.