Also known as: Carthaginian
Bound for Montreal with capacity for 596 passengers and a crew of 57, the SS Carthaginian never made it past Malin Head. On 14 June 1917, this 4,444 GRT Allan Line steel steamship struck a mine laid by German submarine U-79 approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Inishtrahull Lighthouse. Built in 1884 by the Govan Shipbuilding Co. for the Glasgow-Montreal route, she measured 116 metres long and 21 metres wide. The wreck sits at approximately 58 metres with a maximum height of 4.3 metres above the seabed -- a relatively flat profile at depth. Part of the extraordinary concentration of wrecks off Malin Head that makes this stretch of the Donegal coast one of the premier technical dive destinations in the world.
On 14 June 1917, the SS Carthaginian was sailing from Glasgow to Montreal when she struck a mine laid by German submarine U-79 approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Inishtrahull Lighthouse, off the northernmost tip of the Donegal coast near Malin Head. The mine had been part of a field laid to target Allied shipping using the North Channel route.
SS Carthaginian is a cargo vessel wreck located off Donegal, Ireland at a depth of 58 metres. The vessel was lost due to mine in 1902. The wreck is diveable.
SS Carthaginian lies at 50 to 58 metres depth, Off Malin Head, County Donegal.
SS Carthaginian struck a mine on 13 June 1902, off Donegal, Ireland. 0 people lost their lives.
Diving the SS Carthaginian is rated technical and is requires technical diving qualifications including decompression procedures. Minimum certification: Trimix diver.
The best months to dive SS Carthaginian are June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 8°C in winter to 13.5°C in summer.
SS Carthaginian is accessed by boat from Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.5°C | 5.0m | poor | low |
| Feb | 8.0°C | 5.0m | poor | low |
| Mar | 8.5°C | 6.0m | poor | low |
| Apr | 9.5°C | 7.0m | marginal | moderate |
| May | 10.5°C | 8.0m | marginal | moderate |
| Jun | 12.0°C | 12.0m | good | good |
| Jul | 13.0°C | 15.0m | good | high |
| Aug | 13.5°C | 15.0m | good | high |
| Sep | 12.5°C | 12.0m | good | good |
| Oct | 11.0°C | 8.0m | marginal | moderate |
| Nov | 9.5°C | 6.0m | marginal | low |
| Dec | 8.5°C | 5.0m | poor | low |
4 evidence records from 4 sources.
Wreck measures 116m length, 21m width, 4.3m max height, 2.1m average height above seabed.
Collision wreck off Malin Head
4,444 GRT. Hit mine laid by U-79, 2.5 miles NW of Inishtrahull, 14 June 1917. Crew of 57, capacity 596 passengers.
Off Malin Head, County Donegal