CANDIA
Protected Area
Offshore Overfalls
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) - CANDIA offers some of Cornwall & Devon's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 10-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
The *Candia* sits deep, a proper expedition dive at 52 metres, and we love it for its sheer scale. This isn't a site for a quick dip; you'll want solid training and gas planning for a wreck of this size. Built in 1896, she was a P&O liner, torpedoed in 1917, and her massive structure, all 137 metres of her, is surprisingly intact for a century on the seabed. Dropping down, the gloom gives way to the immense hull, twin boilers still prominent amidships. We always find ourselves drawn to the stern, imagining the twin shafts and props, though often they're swallowed by the silty bottom. This is a wreck where you can really feel the history, the sheer guts of a steamship caught in wartime. Look out for conger eels peering from every dark hole, and often we’ve seen ling hanging lazily around the deeper sections. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, as is typical for the UK, but on a good day, the scale of the *Candia* is truly humbling. We'd suggest aiming for slack water, always, as currents can pick up here and make for a challenging dive. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the silent grandeur of a deep, historical ship.
Typical CANDIA 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 52m 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.
CANDIA Wreck History
Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
6,561 GRT
The SS Candia was a proud passenger and cargo liner built in 1896 for the legendary P&O Steam Navigation Company. For two decades, she plied the vital trade routes between Great Britain and the Far East, a symbol of the golden age of steam travel. With the outbreak of World War I, the Candia, like many civilian vessels, continued its service under the constant threat of enemy attack in the dangerous waters of the Atlantic.
Her luck ran out on July 27, 1917. While on passage, she was spotted by the German submarine UC-51. Without warning, a torpedo struck the liner, sealing its fate. The Candia sank, becoming another victim of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign which aimed to cripple the Allied supply lines.
Today, the Candia rests in 52 meters of water off the coast of Cornwall, making it a challenging dive reserved for experienced technical and decompression divers. Those who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a classic turn-of-the-century liner. The wreck is largely upright and intact, with key features like her impressive twin triple-expansion engines and large boilers still identifiable. It's a hauntingly beautiful dive that offers a direct connection to a pivotal moment in maritime history.
Nearest Dive Centres to CANDIA
Dive shops near CANDIA
Sussex Diving & Leisure
Mulberry Marine Experiences CIC
Abyss Scuba School
Ocean View
In2 Diving
Reviews for CANDIA
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for CANDIA
CANDIA Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for CANDIA, 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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