SS Greatham Wreck Dive Torbay
The Greatham is a stunning wreck dive off dartmouth in 47m of water, fairly intact, and generally good viz. This is a must do technical dive!
Dive Site Name: SS Greatham Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Max Depth Seabed: 47m Depth to top of Wreck: 40m
Approximate Position: 50,18.28N 003,30.42W
Tonnage: 2338tonnes Length: 88.4m Beam: 11.6m Cargo: Coal
Date Lost: 22/01/1918 How Lost: Torpedoed UB 31
Minimum Qualification: Technical Diver (Or Equivalent)
The SS Greatham was built in 1890 by William Gray & Co. Ltd of West Hartlepool, Yard number 382. She was launched on the 8/3/1890 as the SS Bussorah and owned/operated by T Appleby & Co until in 1891, when she was renamed the SS Greatham and new 
operators, Coombes, Marshall & Co took over.
The Greatham was a 2338grt 290ft defensively armed British Merchant Ship.
On the 22nd January 1918 the SS Greatham was steaming in convoy, on passage from Grimsby to Blaye, Bordeaux France, with a cargo of coal when she was sited by Oberleutnant Thomas Bieber on UB-31 approximately 3 miles SE of Dartmouth. UB-31 promptly torpedoed the Greatham and she sank with the loss of 7 crew.
There has been some confusion over the identitiy of the Greatham as she has been confused with the SS Elsa who lays within a mile of the Greatham. However Steve Macay and a group of divers did some extensive surveying of these 2 sites (within 1nm of each other) in the mid 2000's and identified the 2 sites correctly based on engineering information and hull damage. For the Elsa see: http://www.teigndivingcentre.co.uk/diving-devon/dive-sites-of-torbay-and-lyme-bay/elsa-wreck-dive
The Greatham now lays in 47m of water and is pretty much intact with some damage fwd of midships. She is generally in clean water and usually reports 5m+ viz on her. A great technical dive!
Further Information:
http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/2601.html
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?4543
http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/198402/wrecktour121_the_greatham.html
