Also known as: Somali
The P&O cargo liner Somali was bound for Hong Kong with nine thousand tons of wartime supplies — everything from medical kits and batteries to toy lead soldiers and coins for the colony's banks — when Luftwaffe Heinkels found her off Beadnell in March 1941. Bombs ignited her holds, and the resulting explosion broke the ship in two. She settled upright in 29 metres, and her upstanding quadruple-expansion engine has become the defining image of Farne Islands wreck diving. Four cylinder heads rise above the surrounding structure like industrial sentinels, while five boilers arranged in neat rows forward give scale to what was a substantial ship. Marine growth has transformed every surface into a living wall of colour. Accessed from Seahouses or Beadnell, the Somali demands respect for her depth and the tidal window, but she repays it with a dive that regularly appears on lists of the best wreck experiences in North East England.
Bombed by a squadron of German Heinkel 111 bombers while heading from London to Hong Kong via Firth of Forth for convoy assembly. Fire broke out in holds; subsequent explosion broke the ship in two off Beadnell, Northumberland.
SS Somali is a cargo vessel wreck located off Northumberland, United Kingdom at a depth of 32 metres. The vessel was lost due to air attack in 1941. The wreck is diveable.
SS Somali lies at 26 to 32 metres depth, Off Beadnell Point, ~1,800m offshore, Northumberland coast.
SS Somali was lost due to air attack on 27 March 1941 during World War II, off Northumberland, United Kingdom.
Diving the SS Somali is rated advanced and is requires an Advanced Open Water certification with wreck diving experience. Recommended: Deep Diver or equivalent.
The best months to dive SS Somali are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 15°C in summer.
SS Somali is accessed by boat from Seahouses, Northumberland, United Kingdom.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 6.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 6.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Apr | 7.5°C | 6.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting |
| May | 9.0°C | 8.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, grey seals, anemones |
| Jun | 11.0°C | 10.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, grey seals, anemones, puffins above |
| Jul | 13.0°C | 13.0m | good | Peak — grey seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, seabirds |
| Aug | 15.0°C | 15.0m | good | Peak — grey seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, seabirds |
| Sep | 14.0°C | 12.0m | good | Good — grey seals, wrasse, pollock |
| Oct | 11.0°C | 7.0m | marginal | Moderate — season closing |
| Nov | 8.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 7.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
Depth 29-30m. Lies upright. Quadruple-expansion engine and five boilers prominent.
Bombed by Heinkel 111s off Beadnell. Fire and explosion broke ship in two. 9,000 tons of cargo.
P&O Line, 6809 tons, 459 ft long, 61 ft beam. London to Hong Kong via Firth of Forth.
Off Beadnell Point, ~1,800m offshore, Northumberland coast