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SS Breda

WRECK INFORMATION:
The details of this dive site are prepared from many sources of information and may not be fully accurate, although
are believed to be reasonably close by the author.

  • Name Breda
  • Site Name Breda
  • Diving Type Wreck
  • NM PDC 6.75 m
  • Longitude 05° 25´ 101
  • Latitude 56° 28´ 575
  • Depth Bow 19mtrs
  • Depth Stern 29mtrs
  • Loss Year 1940
  • Depth Bow Deck 12mtrs
  • Depth Stern Deck 22mtrs
  • Build Year 1921
  • Length 105mtrs
  • Beam 15mtrs
  • Build Location Holland
  • RIB Travel PDC 6.25Nm
  • Loss Reason Enemy Action Tonnage .

Optimum Dive States: Can be dived on any state of tide, however after heavy rain no dives should be made until
2 hours after the ebb begins.

Recommended Minimum Qualification: Supervised diver or sea experienced Open water and above
Important Ancillary Equipment: Primary Torch, SMB, Reel, Secondary Torch

Description: The Breda is a superb example of the type of cargo ship used during the 2nd World War for the conveyance of miscellaneous cargos around the world. Consisting of five main holds and many secondary storage
areas on deck and at other locations around the hull. At the time of sinking all of the rigging and cranage was intact
and was only removed along with the bridge section in the late 60's when the wreck was wire swept by the British Navy to ensure any hazard to shipping was removed. The wreck is up right on the sea bed and allows good access
to all areas without penetration. The wreck is sometimes under stated due to its ease of access.

The Breda was on route to Mombasa as a part of a convoy consisting of over 100 vessels which were grouping in the area North of Oban harbour. It had on board a cargo of supplies sufficient to fortify a small garrison. The policy of the War Department was to fragment cargos so individual ship losses would not be catastrophic to the total supply and therefore a fully mixed range was aboard including Hawker biplanes, De Havilland Moths, Land Rovers, tracked vehicles, cement, tobacco, educational materials, medical supplies and a range of other items, including several horses thought to be for the Aga Khan as part of war debts. The sinking occurred after German bombers having overshot their industrial targets in centralised Britain headed for the shipping routes around the West of Scotland to discharge their payload. Although the Breda did not take a direct hit, a near miss ruptured the plating and water inlet pipes on the port side by the engine room causing an uncontrollable inflow of water. Captain Fooy aware that his ship was sinking fast elected to beach his ship on a sandbar which rises to 6 metres in Ardmucknish Bay. The crew all abandoned ship after freeing the livestock successfully making it to the shore and over the next few days recovered much of the cargo before a storm took the vessel and its remaining substantial cargo to its current position.

Transit Location: Line up on the slipway of the caravan park opposite and slowly troll on th 23 metre contour
South. Very easy to detect

Bow Direction Facing: East


Wreck Condition: The majority of the wreck is intact however the larger part of the superstructure was removed
by the Navy using a dredging bar at a depth of 15 metres.

Popular Route: Bow start point with swim along starboard bow to the stern stopping at points of interest. Over the stern and view the prop area, dark and can generate some silt at 31 mtrs. Continue round until on the Port stern and swim up to the deck level to see the bomb damage. Pay attention to the Lazzerine deck and entries with
hold 5 virtually empty. Cross back to the Port rail and see the stores, short entry to hold 4. See cement, tiles, matting and printing paper books etc., Swim over hold three, explore in daylight zone and swim through to hold two explore and exit to main deck. Bridge area then med stores followed by hold 1 surface to deck debris. New entries to the front of hold 1 with care. Bridge section wire swept in the late 60's interesting with debris field. Bow intact with 19 mtrs to sea bed.

Areas of Interest: Hold 4 and med stores


Silt Hazard: Deep silt inside holds with moderate silt setle time, can lose visibility deeper inside easily.

Orientation: Bow facing the Connel shore (Oban Airport)