This wreck
was an armed merchantman of 1445 tons-248 feet in length.
She is completely upright on the seabed in 32 metres of water and 9
metres proud of the seabed. She was
torpedoed by UB-104 on the 16th September 1918, killing one seaman.
On route from Cherbourg to Barry Roads, the ship was
attacked by UB104. The sub was on its final run back to Germany and the Lord
Stewart was reported to be the U-Boat Captain’s last kill.
She lies eight miles off Teignmouth in Babbacombe Bay and is visited by charter boats out of both Exmouth and Teignmouth.
I have dive this wreck twice, June ’96, then again
in June ’01. Both dives were in poor vis (dark, 3-4 meters) however she had
loads of fish life - pollack, wrasse, pouting, loads of jellyfish and covered in
anemones.
As the wreck is upright, swimming through the holds is
excellent especially with the shoals of fish encountered on both trips.
Apparently there has been wedges of phosphorus found
on this wreck, which will ignite when exposed to air….best left alone.
Staying in Exmouth, the Dolphin Hotel B&B
was good (01395 263832) if I recall £24 per night per person.
We dived off a charter RIB the last visit, however, with the club RIB it
may well be possible to run our own trip during 2003. Loads of good pubs in
Exmouth for grub and air fills local too but parking was tricky.
Alternatively, B&B is available at the New Quay Inn, Teignmouth,
01626 774145
Tides:
Slack is between 2 hours and 1 hour before high water or low water Plymouth. The
GPS co-ordinates are 50 29.610°N,
3 16.990°W
(degrees, minutes and decimals).
Teign Diving Centre can fill air and nitrox and provide equipment rental
and hardboat charter for individuals, 01626 772965.
Launching: The
slip at Teignmouth is usable at all states of the tide except very low springs.
Other slips are available at most ports along the East Devon coastline.
Peter (Smurf)
Last Edited 30/12/2002