Pembrokeshire & Skomer · United Kingdom · Wreck
Lucy
An intact Dutch coaster draped in plumose anemones off Skomer
The Lucy is a Dutch coaster that sank north of Skomer Island in 1967 and is one of the most dived wrecks in Wales. She sits relatively intact in dark water at 36 m, her bows and railings covered in plumose and daisy anemones, and depth and darkness make her an advanced dive.
Also known as The Lucy, Lucy wreck.
Where it is and how deep
51.7367° N, 5.2965° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The descent follows the buoy line to the bows, and divers hang on to it on the way down because there can be a bit of current, especially on large spring tides. Natural light is minimal at the wreck at 36 m, but eyes adjust and show more than expected. On spring tides the seabed is as deep as 42 m.
Plumose anemones, daisy anemones and hydroids spread over the bows, thickest on the railings and over the sides, and small nudibranchs graze along the hull. The route follows the starboard railing aft to the stern. A favoured way up is the anemone-covered mast, climbed to 15 m before a delayed SMB goes up.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Lucy
- Type
- Dutch coaster
- Length
- 52 m (171 ft)
- Sunk
- 1967
- Cause
- Struck Blackstones Reef in Jack Sound with a carbide cargo, then drifted off and sank
- Lies
- Relatively intact at 36 m north of Skomer Island, just outside North Haven
On 14 February 1967 the 450-ton Dutch coaster Lucy hit Blackstones Reef in Jack Sound at midday. Her cargo was calcium carbide, which makes explosive acetylene gas with seawater, so the crew of seven and the ship's collie took to a liferaft at once. The 52 m ship stayed balanced on the reef, cargo fizzing, until the rising tide lifted her off in the early evening, and the current carried her north of Skomer until she sank.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Pembrokeshire & Skomer: Diving runs all year round; storms and strong northerlies cut visibility, and northerlies can close St Brides and Martins Haven.
Know before you go
- Visibility is rarely good, and a few rainy days can bring it to a silty zero.
- Current on the buoy line during the descent, strongest on large spring tides.
Dive videos
MV Lucy - Pembrokeshire · divetheworld on YouTube
Sources
- Wreck Tour 3: The Lucy dive wreck — Divernet
- Diving — Pembrokeshire Boat Charters
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