Also known as: Missouri
The Missouri holds a special place in Anglesey diving — she is the largest vessel ever wrecked close inshore on the island's west coast, and one of the few worthwhile wrecks you can reach by wading in from a sandy beach. A March blizzard in 1886 drove this Warren Line barque-rigged steamer ashore at Porth Dafarch with a cargo manifest that reads like a Victorian general store: live cattle, thousands of cotton bales, sacks of flour, hides, and palm oil. Her remains now lie in two main sections across the bay, the forward part in the middle and the stern hard against the western cliffs, all at an easy 14 metres or less. The shore-dive access from Porth Dafarch beach makes her ideal for newly qualified divers looking for their first proper wreck experience, while the sheer scale of the debris field — from a ship of over 5,000 tons — gives experienced divers plenty to explore on repeat visits.
Ran ashore at Porth Dafarch, near Holyhead, Anglesey, in a heavy snowstorm while carrying a mixed cargo including cattle, cotton, and flour for the Warren Line.
SS Missouri is a cargo vessel wreck located off Anglesey, United Kingdom at a depth of 16 metres. The vessel was lost due to grounding in 1886. The wreck is diveable.
SS Missouri lies at 6 to 16 metres depth, Porth Dafarch bay, near Holyhead, west coast of Anglesey.
SS Missouri ran aground on 1 March 1886, off Anglesey, United Kingdom.
Diving the SS Missouri is rated beginner and is suitable for newly certified Open Water divers. Minimum certification: Open Water. Recommended: Open Water.
The best months to dive SS Missouri are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 7°C in winter to 16°C in summer.
SS Missouri is accessed by shore or boat from Holyhead, Anglesey, United Kingdom.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0°C | 3.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 7.0°C | 3.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 7.5°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Apr | 8.5°C | 5.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting |
| May | 10.0°C | 6.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, lobster |
| Jun | 12.0°C | 8.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, lobster, seals |
| Jul | 14.0°C | 10.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs |
| Aug | 16.0°C | 12.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs |
| Sep | 14.5°C | 9.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, lobster |
| Oct | 12.0°C | 5.0m | marginal | Moderate — season closing |
| Nov | 9.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 8.0°C | 3.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
2 evidence records from 2 sources.
Depth ~14m. Forward section mid-bay, stern against western cliffs. Largest inshore wreck on west Anglesey.
Warren Line steamer ran ashore at Porth Dafarch in snowstorm, March 1886. Carrying cattle, cotton, flour, hides, palm oil.
Porth Dafarch bay, near Holyhead, west coast of Anglesey