Ornate ironwork on the bow, intact after more than a century on the seabed. The SV Invercauld (III) was a 1,416 GRT three-masted steel barque, 237.5 feet long, attacked by the German submarine U-84 on 22 February 1917 while carrying timber from Gulfport, Mississippi, to Fleetwood. After sustaining damage approximately 22 miles southeast of Mine Head, she drifted and sank just south of the Coningmore Rocks near the Saltee Islands. The wreck sits remarkably upright at about 25 metres and is discernible throughout her entire length -- one of the most structurally intact wrecks in the Saltees group. The boilers rise 4 metres off the seabed. Strange and unpredictable currents make this a dive for adequately trained divers only; the current on the shot line may differ significantly from bottom conditions.
On 22 February 1917, the SV Invercauld (III), a three-masted steel barque of 1,416 GRT, was on a voyage from Gulfport, Mississippi, to Fleetwood, England, carrying a cargo of timber. She was attacked by the German submarine U-84, commanded by Walter Roehr, approximately 22 miles southeast of Mine Head on the Irish south coast. After sustaining damage from torpedo or gunfire, the barque drifted and eventually sank just south of the Coningmore Rocks near the Saltee Islands, County Wexford.
SV Invercauld is a sailing vessel wreck located off Wexford, Ireland at a depth of 25 metres. The vessel was lost due to Torpedo / gunfire (U-84) in 1917. The wreck is diveable.
SV Invercauld lies at approximately 25 metres depth, South of Coningmore Rocks, off Saltee Islands.
SV Invercauld was lost due to Torpedo / gunfire (U-84) on 1 January 1917 during World War I, off Wexford, Ireland.
Diving the SV Invercauld is rated advanced and is requires an Advanced Open Water certification with wreck diving experience.
The best months to dive SV Invercauld are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 8°C in winter to 16°C in summer.
SV Invercauld is accessed by boat from Kilmore Quay, Wexford, Ireland.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Feb | 8.5°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Mar | 9.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Apr | 10.0°C | 6.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting/ending |
| May | 11.5°C | 8.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Jun | 13.0°C | 10.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Jul | 14.5°C | 11.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, conger eels |
| Aug | 16.0°C | 11.0m | good | Peak — seals, large shoals, nudibranchs, conger eels |
| Sep | 15.0°C | 10.0m | good | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Oct | 13.0°C | 7.0m | marginal | Good — wrasse, pollock, crabs, anemones |
| Nov | 10.5°C | 5.0m | marginal | Minimal — winter conditions |
| Dec | 9.0°C | 4.0m | poor | Minimal — winter conditions |
6 evidence records from 6 sources.
Max depth ~25m. Strange currents — only for adequately trained divers.
Sitting upright and discernible throughout its length. Ornate bow. Boilers highest point ~4m. Good structural integrity. Strange currents.
SV Invercauld sitting upright and discernible throughout its length. Ornate bow. Boilers highest point ~4m high.
SV Invercauld III, three-masted barque, 1416 tons, 237.5 x 36.2 x 21.7 ft. Sunk by U-84 (Walter Roehr) on 22 February 1917. Voyage Gulfport to Fleetwood with timber.
SM U-84 commanded by Walter Roehr. Sank Invercauld 22 February 1917, 22 miles SE of Mine Head.
Attacked by U-84 off Mine Head, drifted and sank south of Coningmore Rocks.
South of Coningmore Rocks, off Saltee Islands