Scuba diving offers a unique opportunity to discover hidden worlds. Among these underwater treasures, Ireland’s SS Empire Heritage occupies a special place. Located off the coast of Ireland, this British tanker is a relic of the Second World War that attracts the interest of divers and history buffs alike. If you’re ready to dive with mask, tank and fins, here’s a glimpse of what this wreck has to offer.
SS Empire Heritage
The SS Empire Heritage is a British tanker built in 1930 in Newcastle, England, by Armstrong Whitworth & Co. shipyards. Originally named Tafelberg, it was mainly used to transport raw materials such as oil. In 1941, it was seized by the British on Curaçao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles, and renamed Empire Heritage.
During the Second World War, the ship became part of the British fleet, transporting supplies and fuel between North America and Europe. Like many ships of the time, it often traveled in convoys to minimize the risk of attack by enemy submarines.
On September 8, 1944, it was on the New York-Liverpool route. At the time, it was carrying a large load of aviation fuel and an assortment of military vehicles (including Sherman tanks, semi-trailers and trucks). But all this came to a halt when the SS Empire Heritage was torpedoed by the German submarine U-482 near Malin Head, off the Irish coast.
It received 2 torpedoes before sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
The ship quickly sank, and unfortunately a large part of the crew lost their lives. The death toll is estimated at over 113.
But the tragedy didn’t end there: another ship in the convoy, the SS Pinto, which had stopped to pick up survivors, was also torpedoed, adding to the tragedy.
Survivors from both ships were rescued by HMS Northern Wave. They were then repatriated to Derry in Northern Ireland.
The wreck was then forgotten for many years… before being rediscovered in 1995 by a group of divers…
Research expeditions have enabled us to better understand the circumstances of the sinking and to document the current state of the wreck. Some of the objects recovered have even found their way into museums, allowing the general public to connect with this dark but fascinating part of British-Irish maritime history.
SS Empire Heritage
Today, the SS Empire Heritage lies at a depth of around 66 meters, and over the years has become a popular dive site. It’s even considered one of Europe’s finest diving spots, thanks to its fantastic scenery, testimony to a world once at war.
As well as being fascinating and offering a window on the Second World War, it has the advantage of being easily accessible to divers… Just 66 metres: perfect for experienced wreck divers!
On site, the setting is as lunar as it is spellbinding. The wreck of the tanker lies there, gutted, with countless military vehicles sunk in the sand all around it. Sherman tanks, trucks, tracked vehicles… You soon feel as if you’re in the heart of a silent aquatic museum, fascinating and frightening at the same time.
The whole thing has, of course, been covered in algae and deteriorated by time, salt and corrosion. The boat and vehicles have been lying here for 80 years!
Finally, the wreck has also become an artificial habitat for various marine species, contributing to the local ecosystem. What a surreal spectacle!
To discover the wreck, you’ll need to contact a local diving club, located in the vicinity of Malin Head. But be warned: diving to such depths cannot be improvised: this is not a dive for novices. However, it’s an excellent site for advanced divers looking for new challenges.
So here are a few precautions to take if you want to give it a try:
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Rates : diving possible under certain conditions (see above). Prices vary according to the diving club involved.
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