Also known as: Lusitania, Lucy
Eighteen minutes. That's all it took for the Lusitania to disappear beneath the Celtic Sea on 7 May 1915, taking 1,198 souls with her. A single torpedo from U-20, fired eleven miles south of the Old Head of Kinsale, struck the starboard side -- followed by a mysterious second explosion whose cause is still debated. The sinking turned American opinion against Germany and altered the course of World War I. Today the wreck lies on her starboard side at approximately 93 metres, heavily collapsed and continuing to degrade from corrosion and tidal currents. Diving the Lusitania demands advanced trimix certification, deep wreck experience, and permission from Irish authorities. Visibility typically runs 5-8 metres in moderate to strong currents. This is a protected site under Irish law, and the Irish Examiner reported in 2024 that efforts are underway to document and recover artefacts before further collapse.
At 14:10 on 7 May 1915, Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger of U-20 fired a single torpedo at the Lusitania from a range of approximately 700 metres. The torpedo struck the starboard side just behind the bridge. A second, larger internal explosion followed almost immediately — its cause remains debated, with theories including a coal dust explosion, a steam explosion from ruptured boilers, or detonation of undeclared munitions. The ship listed heavily to starboard and sank bow-first in 18 minutes. The rapid sinking and severe list prevented many lifeboats from being launched, contributing to the catastrophic loss of life.
RMS Lusitania is a passenger liner wreck located off Cork, Ireland at a depth of 93 metres. The vessel was lost due to torpedo in 1915. The wreck is diveable.
RMS Lusitania lies at 87 to 93 metres depth, 11 nautical miles south of Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork.
RMS Lusitania was torpedoed on 7 May 1915 during World War I, off Cork, Ireland. 1198 people lost their lives.
Diving the RMS Lusitania is rated extreme and is requires advanced technical diving qualifications including trimix certification and extensive deep wreck experience. Minimum certification: Trimix diver. Recommended: Advanced trimix with wreck penetration.
The best months to dive RMS Lusitania are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 8.5°C in winter to 15°C in summer.
RMS Lusitania is accessed by boat from Kinsale, Cork, Ireland. A dive permit is required. The wreck is a designated war grave.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9.0°C | 6.0m | poor | approximate |
| Feb | 8.5°C | 6.0m | poor | approximate |
| Mar | 9.0°C | 7.0m | fair | increasing |
| Apr | 9.5°C | 8.0m | fair | moderate |
| May | 10.5°C | 10.0m | good | good |
| Jun | 12.0°C | 12.0m | good | good |
| Jul | 14.0°C | 12.0m | good | excellent |
| Aug | 15.0°C | 12.0m | good | excellent |
| Sep | 14.5°C | 10.0m | good | good |
| Oct | 13.0°C | 8.0m | fair | moderate |
| Nov | 11.0°C | 7.0m | poor | moderate |
| Dec | 10.0°C | 6.0m | poor | approximate |
8 evidence records from 8 sources.
1,198 people died in the sinking — 785 passengers and 413 crew.
New sonar imagery of wreck of the RMS Lusitania. INFOMAR team from the Geological Survey of Ireland and Marine Institute published high-resolution sonar imagery.
Wreck location: 51 25 N 8 33 W
Located at a depth of 300 feet (92m), diving on the Lusitania is a task not to be underestimated; the wreck is in tidal water and visibility is usually only about 20 feet (6m).
The Lusitania wreck is facing collapse. The race is on to save as many artefacts as possible.
Torpedoed by German U-boat U-20, Kapitanleutnant Walther Schwieger, on 7 May 1915
At 14:10, Schwieger fired one torpedo which struck the starboard side. A second explosion of unknown cause followed. The ship sank in 18 minutes.
11 nautical miles south of Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork