SS Aparima

SS Aparima was 5704 tons gross Steam ship

Built by William Denny, Dumbarton and completed April 1902

SS Aparima was an armed British Merchant Ship of some 5,704 gross tons and 131m in length. Built 1902 by W. Denny & Bros, Dumbarton she was powered by a 6-cylinder triple expansion engine producing 389hp. She was armed with a single 4.7-inch stern mounted gun. At 00:50 am while en voyage from London to Barry the Aparima was torpedoed without warning by the German submarine UB-40 (the U-boat which also sank the Salsette, LH Carl and many others). The vessel sank in five minutes on the 19 November 1917, giving the crew no time to launch the boats.

A total of 26 European and 30 native crew members were lost, the one passenger, who survived, being a pilot. 26 crew were picked up by the Norwegian vessel SS Selun and landed at St. Helen’s, 16 were picked up by a patrol vessel, the rest landing at Saint Alban’s Head.

Aparima makes for a superb dive. The bow is breaking away from the hull but largely intact. Her gun sits on the seabed starboard side of the stern. Today she lies in 40-42m depth, standing 8m proud, listing to starboard.

Qualification: Advanced Open Water with Deep Speciality and DSMB or Equivalent.