Huelva Coast · Spain · Wreck
Empire Warrior
A British merchant ship sunk by air attack in 1941, still carrying its guns
The Empire Warrior is a British merchant ship sunk by a German air attack in 1941, lying on sand at 18 m about 2.5 miles off Ayamonte, facing the mouth of the Guadiana. Remains of its guns are still visible among the plates, and the wreck holds morays, gorgonians and large shoals of croakers. Bucear Huelva runs it as a dive for divers with Advanced certification.
Where it is and how deep
37.1330° N, 7.4400° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat runs out to a point 2.5 miles off the coast of Ayamonte, in front of the mouth of the Guadiana and seven miles from the Isla Cristina marina, with a guide and a small group. The remains of the British merchant ship lie on a sand bottom at 18 m, and the whole dive takes place among the wreckage.
Among the plates and frames, remains of the ship's artillery can still be seen. Moray eels live among the ironwork, gorgonians grow on the steel, and large shoals of croakers hang over the wreck. The site calls for a certain amount of experience, and the guided trips take it as a dive for divers holding Advanced certification.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Empire Warrior
- Type
- British merchant ship
- Sunk
- 1941
- Cause
- Sunk by a German air attack
- Lies
- On a sand bottom at 18 m, 2.5 miles off Ayamonte facing the Guadiana mouth
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Huelva Coast: Diving runs all year; May to October brings the warmest water and the best visibility, and trips are cancelled when sea conditions do not allow them.
Know before you go
- River sediment from the Guadiana can cut the visibility on the wreck; divers keep close to the guide and their buddy.
Dive videos
Empire Warrior 21JUN15 · uDIVING-Dive Center on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Empire Warrior wreck?+
The wreck lies on a sand bottom at 18 m, about 2.5 miles off the coast of Ayamonte.
What certification does the Empire Warrior need?+
It is run as a dive for divers with Advanced certification, and the site calls for a certain amount of experience.
Sources
- Los 6 mejores sitios para bucear en Huelva — Bucear Huelva
- Buceo - Huelva — Andalucia.com
More dive sites in Huelva Coast
Reef
The way into the Willy slabs at 16 m, by boat from El Rompido
Reef
Rock corridors at 15 m with meagre and red and white gorgonians
Reef
A 12 m rock ridge off El Rompido where gilt-head bream hide in the holes
Reef
An 18 m rock reef reached by boat from Mazagón or Punta Umbría
Reef
Flat rock slabs on sand to 16 m, with congers, morays and big lobsters
Similar dives elsewhere
The 1930 Nelson Line liner lost on Farilhão Grande
The fallback dive of the Berlengas: 1902 steamer ruins at 16–24 m
A 47 m freighter upright on her keel at 21 m
Nearly 152 metres of liner (500 feet), broken across the reef in under 20 m