Steamship · lost 1938 · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
BEN MAY
The Ben May is notable for her final resting place in East Tarbet Bay, where she lies in a sheltered area at a depth of 20 metres. Originally built as the Ready, she underwent several ownership changes before being renamed Ben May by the Ramsey Steamship Co Ltd. On 14th November 1938, while transporting coal from Workington to Dundrum, the Ben May sprang a leak north of the Isle of Man.
Despite the crew's efforts to manage the situation, the vessel was abandoned near the Mull of Galloway. The crew safely reached shore, aided by a motorboat from Drummore. Today, divers exploring the wreck will find her remains well broken on a sandy seabed, featuring notable elements such as her anchor, mast, and remnants of her cargo.
Type
Steamship
Lost
1938
Depth
18 mBeginner grade
Minimum cert.
Confirm with a local operator
Location
Dumfries and Galloway, United KingdomSolway Firth
4 of 5 facts above are cited in Sources below.
History and LossLost 1938 · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom.
Lost 1938.
Condition of the WreckBroken.
Notable Features
Anchor
Cargo remains
Mast
A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
Depth, Access and DifficultyGraded Beginner · Certification unverified.
Open water 33Advanced 34Deep 36Technical 25Trimix 15
18304060140
Seasonal Conditions
Seasonality for BEN MAY: water temperature, typical visibility, surface access and marine life, by month.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Water temp
8.9°
7.8°
7.4°
8.3°
10.1°
12.2°
14°
15.1°
14.8°
13.7°
12.2°
10.3°
Visibility
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Additional Details6 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
1938
Latitude
54.6500° N
Longitude
4.8595° W
Water body
Solway Firth
Condition
Broken
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
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BEN MAY is a steamship wreck located off Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom at a depth of 18 metres. The wreck is diveable.
How deep is the BEN MAY?
BEN MAY lies at approximately 18 metres depth, Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway.
What certification do you need to dive the BEN MAY?
As reported, diving the BEN MAY is rated beginner and is suitable for newly certified Open Water divers. Minimum certification: Confirm with a local operator. A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
18 m
18 m at the deepest — deeper than 33 of the 143 diveable wrecks in this database, past the advanced threshold.