SS VOLNAY

The best launch site for this wreck is a small cove of Porthousestock where you can launch your boat for a small fee in the honesty box. The site can get quite packed with divers. The Volnay is located two minutes north of Porthkerris Cove that didn't like dive boats launching from their slipway in the 80s this may have changed now.

SS Volnay was owned by Gow, Harrison & Co, Glasgow and was on route from Montreal for Plymouth. SS Vonay was a defensively-armed British Merchant Ship. On Fri 14th December 1917 at about 0:40 Hrs she hit a mine (thought to be German) some 2 miles from the Manacles, Cornwall. Fortunately its cargo, which was made up of High explosive artillery rounds, did not explode and the captain was able to divert from the planned course to Falmouth to a shallow bay at Porthallow. Before reaching it, the Volnay 117m 4610 ton ship sank in 22m of water just off the beach

Some of its cargo which consisted of food such as coffee, sugar, butter, jam, and potato crisps, which after two years of war had become almost unobtainable, that is until it was washed up on Porthallow Beach, much to the residents joy, this made Christmas of 1917 a much more pleasant experience! I spoke to one local who told us the beach was covered in boxes, some stayed there for many weeks.

What was left on the wreck was heavily salvaged at the time and years later. When diving look out for brass shell fuses/cases, lead shrapnel balls (see below) and cordite (looks like broom bristles) treat with caution along with any white waxy material, this is phosphorous It is a colorless or yellowish translucent wax-like substance and glows and ignites on contact with oxygen, as soon as you hit the surface. Its fire is difficult to extinguish, and it sticks to flesh, making its burns more severe. “Infection is common and the body’s absorption of the chemical can cause serious damage to internal organs, as well as death. If that hasn't put you off! The one that is said to be the most dangerous is the lead shrapnel balls found all around the wreck. If you find some that have not been open to the sea water ie inside a shell leave well alone! they are coated with arsenic! Nice British anti personnel shells.

I have had large lumps of coal from the Volnay which are quite a talking point and they burn real nice, must be the salt water. While diving the Volnay I came across two dinner plates but after cleaning I noticed they were dishwasher safe. Some diver will have their fun, a bit like my beef bones on the James Egan Lane.

A very popular if no other site is available. Can get quite busy and is a good choice for the less experienced divers. The day when the photos were taken we were the only two dive boats to launch out of six clubs. They watched us out and watched us back in.....

The Volnay can be dived at all states of the tide and is only affected by easterly or southerly winds.