Also known as: James Eagan Layne, JEL
Ask any Plymouth diver about their first wreck and chances are they will name the James Eagan Layne. This American Liberty ship was torpedoed by U-1195 off Eddystone Reef in March 1945 — one of the very last U-boat kills of the war — and sank in Whitsand Bay after an unsuccessful tow, mercifully without any loss of life. Lying on sand between 10 and 24 metres, she is shallow enough for newly certified divers yet interesting enough to draw experienced wreck enthusiasts back again and again. The structure teems with life: pollack shoal around the superstructure, conger eels lurk in the hull plating, and spider crabs carpet the decking in season. Sitting just 540 metres from the scuttled frigate HMS Scylla, the two wrecks together make Whitsand Bay one of the most accessible double-wreck sites in British waters.
Torpedoed by U-1195 (Kptlt. Ernst Cordes) off Eddystone Reef in one of the final U-boat attacks of the war. Taken under tow but sank in Whitsand Bay. No loss of life. Named after James Eagan Layne, second engineer of Esso Baton Rouge, killed when his ship was sunk by U-123 in 1943.
SS James Eagan Layne is a cargo vessel wreck located off Devon, United Kingdom at a depth of 24 metres. The vessel was lost due to torpedo in 1945. The wreck is diveable.
SS James Eagan Layne lies at 10 to 24 metres depth, Whitsand Bay, Plymouth, 540m east of HMS Scylla.
SS James Eagan Layne was torpedoed on 21 March 1945 during World War II, off Devon, United Kingdom. 0 people lost their lives.
Diving the SS James Eagan Layne is rated beginner and is suitable for newly certified Open Water divers. Minimum certification: PADI Open Water / BSAC Ocean Diver. Recommended: PADI Open Water / BSAC Ocean Diver.
The best months to dive SS James Eagan Layne are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Water temperature ranges from 8°C in winter to 18°C in summer.
SS James Eagan Layne is accessed by boat from Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 8.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 9.0°C | 6.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting |
| Apr | 10.5°C | 7.0m | good | Moderate — spider crabs arriving |
| May | 12.0°C | 9.0m | good | Good — pollack, wrasse, spider crabs, cuttlefish |
| Jun | 14.0°C | 11.0m | good | Good — pollack, wrasse, spider crabs, cuttlefish |
| Jul | 16.0°C | 13.0m | good | Peak — large shoals, conger eels, spider crab aggregations, cuttlefish |
| Aug | 18.0°C | 15.0m | good | Peak — large shoals, conger eels, spider crab aggregations, cuttlefish |
| Sep | 17.0°C | 12.0m | good | Good — pollack, wrasse, spider crabs, cuttlefish |
| Oct | 14.0°C | 8.0m | good | Good — pollack, wrasse, conger eels |
| Nov | 11.0°C | 6.0m | marginal | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 9.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
Upper wreck 10-11m, seabed 22-24m. 540m east of HMS Scylla. Diveable at most tidal states.
Liberty ship. Torpedoed by U-1195 off Eddystone Reef, 21 March 1945. Sank in Whitsand Bay. No loss of life. 7,176 GRT.
One of the most dived wrecks in the UK. First wreck dive for many generations of UK divers.
Whitsand Bay, Plymouth, 540m east of HMS Scylla