Not to be confused with Ireland’s Lusitania, Cape Town’s Lusitania wreck is easier to access, and is not as hallowed an underwater burial site as the ship by the same name in Irish waters. This ship struck the rocks on April 18th of 1911. Most of the eight hundred passengers and crew onboard the ship were able to escape death, since it took two days for the ship’s structure to fill with water and finally slip off the rocks into deeper water. Still, eight people lost their lives when their lifeboat capsized as they attempted to depart the ship.
Today, Lusitania dive trips are available to the most experienced divers only. Conditions must be perfect, and prior arrangements must be made, if you want to visit the wreck, which is now next to a reef that is completely encrusted with colorful invertebrates and hosts a shoal of Yellowtail Seriola. The ship itself is woefully barren of life, and offers a strange contrast to the rocky reef that sunk her.
Once owned by Empreza Nacional De Navegacao of Lisbon, the twin-screw liner was built in 1906. She now lies in about forty meters of water to the east of Bellows Rock. The rock itself is sometimes exposed, however, it should be avoided as the current can be treacherous.
SS Lusitania: The Dive Site and Conditions
The diveable reef begins at fifteen meters below the surface, and plunges sharply to about thirty-three meters. The bow of the ship is in shallower water and is more easily accessed than the stern, and while the wreck has been smashed and pelted by the current over the years, the wreck is breaking apart fairly quickly. Still, one can recognize the boilers, and get a good look at what appears to be part of a steam engine.
You can see dinner plates scattered on the ocean floor, along with pipes and valves, bits of crockery, and pieces of what look like tiles. Brass portholes lie among the wreckage.
On days when the wreck is diveable, visibility is normally excellent, sometimes exceeding forty meters. The water can be cold, and divers on Nitrox are particularly susceptible to nitrogen narcosis, so if this is the mix you prefer to dive on, then be cognizant of the signs and look out for your own safety. Trimix is a better bet!
Look for a reputable dive operator – one that will assess your skills and ascertain whether you are capable of making this deep, challenging dive. You will need to carry a reel with a DSMB, and dive with a pony along with a good sized cylinder, or you may choose to use isolation manifolded twins instead. Many divers do not realize just how choppy the ride out to the wreck will be – so, if you are susceptible to seasickness, be sure to carry an appropriate remedy with you!
To be certain, this is a wreck with its challenges and dangers, however, if you are interested in history and enjoy seeing massive boilers and engines below the water, then diving the wreck of the SS Lusitania will provide you with thrills, as well as a sense of accomplishment once the adventure comes to a close!