DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

The SS Worcestershire SS Worcestershire , a steel-hulled steamship, was built by Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. She was 7,170 tons, had a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in, and a service speed of 15 knots; her maiden voyage was in September 1904; during WW1, she was repurposed for trooping duties, a testament to her versatility. However, her fate took a tragic turn on 17 February 1917, when she encountered a minefield laid by the German Armed Merchant Cruiser SMS Wolf ten miles southwest of Colombo. She was about 12 km off the coast of Mount Lavinia when she sent out a radio signal to report that something had struck the hull, and shortly afterwards, another message informed that the steamer was sinking about 10 miles southwest of Colombo. The sinking of the SS Worcestershire claimed two lives: Abdullah, a boy of the Indian Merchant Service, and Lobo, a butcher. Their names are remembered on the Bombay Memorial for Sailors, a testament to the historical significance of this event. The wreck lies at a depth of 57 m, 12 km west of Mount Lavinia, and was identified with the recovery of the ship’s bell by divers Nishan Perera, Naren Gunasekara and Dharshana Jayawardena on 12 March 2014. Pecheur Breton The Pecheur Breton , also locally known as the “ Cargo Wreck ”, is one of the most popular wreck dives in Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful scenic wreck to explore and photograph, surrounded by a variety of marine Life. She rests on her port side in just 32m of water, with her starboard side at 18m. Easy penetration and open cargo holds create pleasant and easy swim-throughs for wreck divers. The wreck is now a thriving living reef covered in colourful, hard and soft coral. Schools of fusiliers congregate above the wreck, DIVE LOG Australasia #412 - June 25 72

Captain Nerger and SMS Sea Wolf sank 34 ships in WW! during a 451 day voyage from Germany around NZ, Australia and Sri Lanka.

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