SS Saganaga Wreck - Newfoundland
The SS Saganaga, resting in the chilly waters off Newfoundland, offers a solid wreck dive for those who appreciate history and the slow reclamation of steel by the sea. We’ve found her to be quite photogenic, with her bow often sitting upright and her holds open, inviting a gentle penetration if you’re properly trained and equipped for overhead environments. Expect to see cod lurking in the shadows, some decent-sized crabs scuttling over the decking, and an interesting array of anemones clinging to the metal. It’s a dive that rewards patience and a keen eye for detail, rather than dramatic pelagics, making it a good fit for wreck enthusiasts who enjoy a contemplative exploration.
- Location
- Newfoundland, Canada, North America
- Coordinates
- 47.583332, -52.970000
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Best Time to Dive in Newfoundland
The warmest water temperatures in Newfoundland occur in August, averaging 15.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 0.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 2.3°C
- February: 1.1°C
- March: 0.3°C
- April: 1.3°C
- May: 3.9°C
- June: 7.3°C
- July: 12.4°C
- August: 15.9°C
- September: 14.6°C
- October: 11.9°C
- November: 8.0°C
- December: 4.6°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Newfoundland
- Black Reef (reef)
- Black Rocks (reef)
- BLUEBACK - 30m (wreck)
- Catamaran Reef (reef)
- CLAMOR - 2m (wreck)
- East Reefs
- East Reefs - 5-20m (reef)
- FAIR ISLAND TRADER (POSSIBLY) - 5m (wreck)
- FOAM V - 0m (wreck)
- FREDERICK L BLAIR - 0m (wreck)
- Halfway Reef (reef)
- HMS CALYPSO - 0m (wreck)
- HMS DRAKE - 0m (wreck)
- LORD STRATHCONA - 40m (wreck)
- Lord Strathcona Wreck - 10-30m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to SS Saganaga Wreck
- Ocean Quest Adventure Resort - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Newfoundland
Home to 72 recorded species including 35 reef fish, 13 whales & dolphins, 7 sharks & rays, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 soft corals.
Notable Species
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
- Capelin (Mallotus villosus) - Reef Fish
- Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
- bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) - Seagrass & Algae
- knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Daubed Shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Starry Ray (Amblyraja radiata) - Sharks & Rays
- Blackfish (Globicephala melas) - Whales & Dolphins
- bull rout (Myoxocephalus scorpius) - Reef Fish
- lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) - Reef Fish
- witch (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) - Reef Fish
- Razorback (Balaenoptera physalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- moustache sculpin (Triglops murrayi) - Reef Fish
- snake blenny (Lumpenus lampretaeformis) - Reef Fish
- Redfish (Sebastes mentella) - Reef Fish
- irish moss, carragheen (Chondrus crispus) - Seagrass & Algae
- American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Reef Fish
- red soft coral (Gersemia rubiformis) - Soft Corals
Recommended Packing List for SS Saganaga Wreck
Based on average water temperature of 7.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.
- Drysuit - water at 7°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