The Lusitania Sank in Water Shallower Than the Ship Was Long
Stood on end, the 240-meter ship would stick out of the waves above its wreck 93 meters down.
RealLifeLore · The Ocean is Way Deeper Than You ThinkThe wreck of the Lusitania rests in water shallower than the ship was long.
The liner measures 240 meters from end to end, yet the wreck sits just 93 meters below the surface. Stood upright on its bow or stern, it would poke out of the waves into open air. It lies that shallow because it went down close to shore, on the continental shelf that keeps the seabed near land relatively shallow.
That depth is still out of reach for most people who dive for fun. The limit for recreational scuba diving is 40 meters, so the wreck lies more than twice as deep as casual divers are allowed to go. A little deeper still, around 100 meters, the risks climb sharply from the bends, when nitrogen bubbles form in the blood if a diver rises too fast.
Questions people ask
Where is the wreck of the Lusitania?
About 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, in the Celtic Sea. It lies on its side in about 300 feet of water, where strong tides and low visibility often make the site difficult to dive.
What sank the Lusitania?
A German U-boat torpedoed the British liner on May 7, 1915, during World War I. The ship sank in about 18 minutes with the loss of about 1,198 lives.