Also known as: Sento, Sante, Santo
Christmas Day 1900. A Japanese crew, a Chinese cook, Scottish officers, and a steam-powered bucket dredger bound for Formosa. The SS Sente had been built at Greenock for the Japanese government at a cost of 20,000 pounds. Just three days out of port, a winter gale in St George's Channel gave her a fatal list to port. Captain Jameson pointed the vessel for shelter at Cork, but she went down off Roches Point. The hull is barely recognisable at 28-30 metres, but all the heavy machinery remains -- massive drive gears, an upturned engine base with gearbox, dredger buckets, bevelled gears, and propeller shaft sections. The wreckage piles up at a high point rising 4 metres above the seabed. Featured in Divernet Wreck Tour No. 178. Accessible from Crosshaven, with slack water diving recommended.
Built for the Japanese government at a cost of 20,000 pounds for dredging service in Formosa. After brief trials in Greenock, she departed 22 December 1900 with a Japanese crew, a Chinese cook, and Scottish officers/engineers. Two days later in St George's Channel she got into difficulty in a typical south-westerly winter gale. By Christmas Day the vessel had developed a list to port. Captain Jameson moved 16 crew to the ship's boats and pointed the Sente for shelter at Cork, but she sank off Roches Point.
SS Sente is a cargo vessel wreck located off Cork, Ireland at a depth of 30 metres. The vessel was lost due to storm in 1900. The wreck is diveable.
SS Sente lies at 28 to 30 metres depth, Off Roches Point, south-east of Cork Harbour.
SS Sente was lost in a storm on 25 December 1900, off Cork, Ireland.
Diving the SS Sente is rated intermediate and is suitable for divers with an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent.
The best months to dive SS Sente are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 9°C in winter to 16°C in summer.
SS Sente is accessed by boat from Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 9.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 9.5°C | 7.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Apr | 10.5°C | 8.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting/ending |
| May | 12.0°C | 10.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Jun | 13.5°C | 12.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Jul | 15.0°C | 14.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, conger eels |
| Aug | 16.0°C | 14.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, conger eels |
| Sep | 15.0°C | 12.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Oct | 13.0°C | 9.0m | marginal | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Nov | 11.0°C | 7.0m | marginal | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 10.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
5 evidence records from 4 sources.
SS Sente wreck off Roches Point, accessible from Crosshaven. Slack water diving recommended.
Hull barely recognisable but all the big machinery remains. Upturned engine base with gearbox, massive drive gears for dredging mechanism, solid frame sections, bevelled gear and propeller-shaft section. High point where debris piles up 4m above seabed. Main engine fitted with gearbox to drive both propeller and dredging equipment.
SS Sente listed among Ireland's top wreck diving sites. Steam-powered bucket dredger lost off Cork on Christmas Day 1900.
Built at Greenock for Japanese government at cost of 20,000 pounds. Departed 22 December 1900. Sank Christmas Day after developing fatal list in winter gale. Dredger buckets, gears, and engine visible.
SS Sente listed among dive sites in the south Cork area near Roches Point.
Off Roches Point, south-east of Cork Harbour