Mystery of 140-year-old shipwreck finally solved

A local dive team has solved a nearly 140-year-old maritime mystery by identifying the wreck of the SS Nantes off the coast of Devon.

Diver and explorer Dom Robinson confirmed the discovery after spotting crockery stamped with the Cunard Steamship Company crest during an expedition near Plymouth. The vessel, which sank in 1888 after colliding with the German sailing ship Theodor Ruger, had remained lost for over a century.

According to maritime historian Dr Harry Bennett, the team achieved what he called “the underwater archaeological equivalent of a needle in a haystack.” He said the wreck was matched through its structure, cargo, and onboard technology—along with the telltale Cunard plate.

The SS Nantes sank after the crew spent hours trying to save the ship, even stuffing mattresses into the damaged hull. Around 23 crew members died, with only three survivors. Bodies later washed ashore at Talland Bay and Looe, creating what locals at the time described as a haunting scene.

Robinson said he first heard about the site from the UK Hydrographic Office and decided to investigate. “At the end of my dive I found a broken piece of plate... it had the Cunard crest on it. That’s when I knew—bingo, we’ve found it,” he said.

Dr Bennett praised the team’s “methodical, dedicated detective work” and said their findings leave “no reasonable doubt” the wreck is the long-lost Nantes.

Robinson, who has been diving for 35 years, said solving the mystery was about more than just the discovery: “By telling these stories, I’m making sure those who died are not forgotten.”

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