SS Ursa Wreck in Lyme Bay
The SS Ursa is a deep wreck dive in 46m of water standing upright on the seabed. She is approximately 8miles SSW of Beer Head and is a highly rated technical dive.
Dive Site Name: SS Ursa Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Max Depth Seabed: 46m Depth to top of Wreck: 36m
Approximate Position: 50,28.18N 003,00.57W
Tonnage: 1740tonnes Length: 82.3m Beam: 11m Cargo: Coal
Date Lost: 17/09/1918 How Lost: Torpedoed UB 104
Minimum Qualification: PADI Tec 45 Diver / Technical Diver (Or Equivilent)
SS Ursa was built in 1902 by Grangemouth & Greenock Dockyard Co. Grangemouth Yard # 234. She was built as the Siva and launched on the 8th July 1902. Originally owned by J.T.Salvesen & Co, Grangemouth she was owned at the time of her loss by 
Bernhard Ingelsson - AB Kärnan, Helsingborg (Sweden). The Ursa was a Swedish steamer of 1740 tons, and 270Ft in length.
The SS ursa was on passage from Penarth to Rouen with a cargo of 2432tonnes of coal. She was sighted by UB-104 under the command of Thomas Beiber on the morning of the 17th September 1918 8 miles SSW of Beer Head, Lyme Bay. UB104 torpedoed her and she was hit in hold number 1 at 05:15 hrs. She strated to sink by the bow and was lsot completely within 10 minutes.
The Ursa's second mate was taken aboard the submarine UB-104 for questioning and then released back to his life boat and the whole crew of 19 reached the shore at Beer at 08:30 hrs on the 17/09/18
The Ursa has been confused in the past with the W H Dwyer, the identities have now been confirmed by Lyme Bay Deep Divers for information on the dwyer look here http://www.teigndivingcentre.co.uk/diving-devon/dive-sites-of-torbay-and-lyme-bay/w-h-dwyer-wreck-dive
The wreck of the Ursa now lies upright in 46m of water, the bows are smashed open and the stern, laying to the North , is open so that the galley is clearly visible.This is a popular technical diving wreck and a rated dive!
This is a report from Nick Chipchase on Wrecksite, Nick has a sketch of the wreck here too http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?78023:
The wreck is reasonably intact and a popular dive site. The raised poop is intact and can be entered although it is quite silty. It was clearly used for accommodation. The four blade prop. is in situ and the scour here is at 49m.
Further forward are two holds with a winch and mast stub.The engine room casing survives but much of the engine room is full of silt. There is debris on the seabed midships on the starboard side ,presumably the remains of the middle island and bridge area. The forward hold is intact but the bow section has broken away and lists to port. The anchor can be seen in the starboard hawse. Identification was based on measurements, loss position and vessel type.
Further build information:
Imo 1090921..Ursa Ex Siva 1902
Further Information:
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?78023
http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/6224.html
http://7seasvessels.com/?p=57047
