Dive Site Name: SS Galicia (AKA Galecia)               Position: 50.33.16N 003.26.17W

Type: Wreck            Tonnage: 1589grt     Length:  7400ft 6"       Cargo:  General Cargo including Cement Barrels, cloth, mail and ammunition

Date Lost: 12/5/1917      How Lost:  Struck mine laid by U-17

Max Depth Seabed:  18m                Depth to top of Wreck: 14m

Minimum Qualification:    PADI Open Water Diver (Or Equivilent)

The Galicia built in 1901 by Wigham Richardson & Co. at Newcastle with a service speed of 13 knots. Sister ship of the Potosi (Later Kazan then Kasato Maru pictured below) she was built for the Liverpool - Valparaiso service for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Liverpool, but was completed without any passenger accommodation. On 31st July 1915 she struck a mine in the English Channel in the Downs but managed to reach port safely. Two years later, on 12th May 1917, she sank after hitting a mine off Teignmouth laid by the U-Boat U-17 (http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/ship.html?shipID=2355) with a cargo including 12 and 14 pound shells in her forward holds and cement barrels!

In 1923 the wreck was dispersed as it reportedly broke the surface and presented a hazard to shipping and she was heavily salvaged as she was reasonably shallow. She now lies over a large area and is well broken. Some describe her as a scrap yard however if you are fortunate enought o dive her on the odd ocassion of exceptional viz (we have seen 20m + viz on her!!) then you can see her in her full glory and laid out almost as a flat packed wreck! There are still some features including the boiler tubes, masts and until 2011 at least 1 porthole remained!! Some of the cargo can still be seen including cement drums that have now set and made a solid lump!! Fabric bundles can still be found that were reportedly being transported to make hats.

The wreck has an abundance of marine life and is usually rich with lobster and crabs as well as some great "forests" of sea fans. This site is especially good as a night dive. At the Centre we reguyalrly use it as an entry level wreck training dive.

Photos here are of the Poosi her sister ship and as ever great thanks to Richard Clarke www.divesouthdevon.com who has helped to research this dive.

Galicia Sister Ship Kosato Maru