Wreck Diving in Waterford
4 diveable wrecks in Waterford, Ireland. Depths range from 5–38m.
George Milburn
One man survived -- blown clear into the sea by the force of the explosion. When a mine from UC-42 detonated amidships on 12 July 1917, the 37-metre armed minesweeper George Milburn was ripped apart while escorting the oiler SS Wylie from Queenstown to Milford. Eleven of the twelve crew died instantly. The sole survivor was picked up by a passing fishing boat. The wreck lies in two pieces at 23 metres west of Hook Head in Waterford Harbour. Local sub-aqua clubs leave a permanent shot line on the site, making it easy to locate. The relatively shallow depth allows extended bottom time, and DUSAC describe it as a rewarding afternoon dive. About 30 minutes by boat from Dunmore East. Designated war grave.
SS Bandon
Friday the 13th lived up to its reputation. On 13 April 1917, the SS Bandon struck a mine from German submarine UC-44 off Mine Head while sailing from Liverpool to Cork. The blast beside the engine room killed 28 crew; only 4 survived, including Captain Kelly. In a grim twist, UC-44 herself was destroyed just four months later by one of her own mines off Dunmore East, with her commander Kurt Tebbenjohanns as the sole survivor. The Bandon wreck lies badly broken up at 33-34 metres, oriented east-west. INFOMAR multibeam surveyed. More challenging than nearby SS Folia -- heavier bottom current and poorer visibility demand precise slack-water timing. Built in 1910 by Swan Hunter, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 81.1 metres long. Boat dive from Dungarvan. War grave.
SS Folia
"Possibly the best wreck dive in Ireland." That is the verdict of local charter operators on the SS Folia, and the numbers back it up: relatively light currents and an average bottom visibility of 9 metres or more -- exceptional for Irish waters. This former Cunard liner of 6,705 GRT was torpedoed by U-53 under the highly decorated Hans Rose on 11 March 1917, 4 nautical miles off Ram Head, Ardmore. The third officer spotted a periscope 150 metres away, then two torpedo wakes. U-53 surfaced, circled, shelled the ship four times, and fired a second torpedo. Seven crew died. Badly broken up at 33-38 metres, but bow, boilers, stern with rudder, and an anti-aircraft gun remain as high points. Spent artillery shells from her 4,400-tonne cargo litter the seabed. Takes several dives to appreciate fully. Licence required from National Monuments Service. Boat from Dungarvan.
Samson
You can see it from the cliff walk above -- and then swim through it below. The Samson is a 55-metre Maltese crane barge that washed ashore at Ram Head, Ardmore, during a south-easterly gale on 12 December 1987 while being towed from Liverpool to Malta. The towline parted off the Welsh coast and could not be reconnected. The crew of two were rescued by RAF helicopter from Brawdy. Despite questions in Dail Eireann about removing the wreck, it was never salvaged. In April 2016 the entire crane jib collapsed into the sea, adding to the underwater wreckage. The site offers shallow diving and snorkelling from 5 to 16 metres and has become a popular local dive -- shore or boat access from Ardmore. An evolving, accessible wreck in a scenic location.