Alternative Names: Thurlestone.
Type of Dive: Shore wreck dive at Thurlestone, The Louis Shied was a Belgian steamer measuring 420ft long with a beam of 55 ft. She was built by Nord Werft of Wesermunder under the name Ultor and renamed Kendal Castle prior to being renamed Louis Sheid for the Belgian National Shipping Line.
Wreck Information: Broken by storm and so heavily salvaged that today only her double bottoms remain recognisable and part of the bow on the south side of Leas Foot bay. The boilers are intact and the prop shaft stands proud of the bottom. Various plates and ribs cover the bottom and today provide a home to lobster and lots of good-sized ballan and cuckoo wrasse. It's also an excellent night dive, and if dived at a full moon it's a very scenic dive.
Cargo: Wheat and general cargo
Suggested experience: Novice
Travel directions: From Plymouth Google map
Parking directions: At present £2 a day a short distance to the sandy shore Google map
Lat / Long: N50.74341 W-4.5813 At low tide some metal posts used to show above the surface to mark her position.
Chart: Admiralty Chart 1613
Tides: Tide Tables High tide is best as you will have more water and better visibility. There are no currents to be wary of at any state of the tide. At low springs you can walk out to the wreck.
Depth:12m
Site entry/exit: From the car park the footpath will lead you to the left (South) and down on to the sandy beach. Once on the sand double back and head to the Northerly end of the beach where the headland sticks out, this is where you enter the water. Take a compass bearing due west and you'll hit the wreck. Or once in the water line yourself up with the clifftop hotel and swim out until the rock arch to the east lines up with the first house on the east side of the bay and you should above the wreck.
Underwater directions: It's a small area so just explore.
Air & Nitrox: Auuanauts
Nearest Public phone: Contact me
Mobile Network service: Contact me
Accommodation: Self-catering Hope and anchor Bed and Breakfast
Other comments: South westerlies will blow the site right out. Two-Thirds Blue Sub-Aqua Club SAA 912 adopted the wreck under the scheme run by the Nautical Archaeology Society.
Pub: Hope and anchor
Cafe: Contact me
Version: 2
Thanks To: P Mason for the surface picture.
Links: Link
Created by: Dan Bolt
Nitrox / Air fills: None close Sandford and Down Aquanauts Sound diving
Date: 8/7/00
Surface Photos: WEBCAM
Underwater photos: By Dan Bolt Utube Utube Utube
Wreck diagram:
Dive report: Comment in the box below.