Sailing vessel · lost 1850 · Wexford, Ireland
SV Royal Arthur
Somewhere in six metres of water off Hook Head, walrus tusks may still lie among the wreckage. The SV Royal Arthur ran aground in 1850 carrying this unusual cargo, and while tusks have been found over the years, some are thought to remain hidden in the scattered debris on the west side of the peninsula.
But the real draw may be what surrounds it: the extraordinary underwater caverns along Hook Head's western shoreline, where sunlight penetrates through blowholes to create dramatic cathedral-like illumination. A unique combination of historical curiosity and natural spectacle.
- Type
- Sailing vessel
- Lost
- 1850Grounding
- Depth
- 6 m
- Location
- Wexford, IrelandCeltic Sea
1 of 4 facts above is cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 6 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
- Loss date: Sources give 1850, 1871. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
History and LossLost 1850 · Grounding · Wexford, Ireland.
In 1850, the SV Royal Arthur ran aground at Hook Head, County Wexford, while carrying a cargo of walrus tusks. The wreckage came to rest on the west side of the Hook Head peninsula in shallow water.
Lost 1850, Grounding.
The Voyage
- Cargo
- Walrus tusks
Condition of the WreckScattered, in 6–6 m.
Intactness
Scattered wreckage on the west side of the Hook peninsula in approximately 6m of water. Walrus tusks from the cargo have been found among the wreckage historically, though none have been recovered recently. Some are thought to remain.
Notable Features
- Walrus tusk cargo — some thought to remain among wreckage
- Can be combined with exploring caverns and blowholes along western shoreline
- Unique cargo makes this wreck distinctive among Irish sites
Regulations and Restrictions
Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).
Additional Details8 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Loss date
- 1850
- Latitude
- 52.13° N
- Longitude
- 6.93° W
- Water body
- Celtic Sea
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Scattered
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- National Monuments Service — Wreck Inventory of Irelandservices-eu1.arcgis.com · Official record9 facts
- Marine Institutedata.marine.ie · Official record2 facts
- DUSACdusac.org · Secondary source2 facts
- JustGottaDivejustgottadive.com · Secondary source2 facts
- Dive Wexforddivewexford.org · Club or operator1 fact
- © Government of Ireland. National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- © Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
A further 4 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SV Royal Arthur?
SV Royal Arthur is the wreck of a sailing vessel, off Wexford, Ireland, at 6 metres. SV Royal Arthur ran aground and was wrecked in 1850.
How deep is the SV Royal Arthur?
SV Royal Arthur lies at approximately 6 metres, West side of Hook Head peninsula.
How did the SV Royal Arthur sink?
SV Royal Arthur ran aground and was wrecked on 1850, off Wexford, Ireland.
Is the SV Royal Arthur protected?
Yes. SV Royal Arthur is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).