1st World War shipwrecks in La Vila Joiosa

The Mediterranean coast was widely used by Allied merchant ships during WW1 as a transit route given its neutrality during the war, and therefore the commanders of the German submarines included it as one of the main points of hunting.

There were attacks and shipwrecks in the coastal town of La Vila Joiosa. Its waters are home to 6 wrecks sunk by the German submarine U64, commanded by Lieutenant Ship Robert Morath. This submarine sank the awesome amount of 15.000 tons of ships plus the battleship “Danton”, between December 1917 to February 1918.

In Vila Joiosa, tech divers can visit the fowowing wrecks: 

• OWASCO: With 122m length and 14,5m beam with American flag. She was sunk the 10th of December 1917, when she was sailing the Norfolk-Genova route and a load of gasoline gallons. Lies at -74m.
• CRATHORNE: With 91m length and 12m beam with Norwegian flag. She was sunk the 10th of December 1917, when she was sailing the Baltimore-Genova route with a load of flavor. Lies at-80m.
• D.A. GORDON: With 76m length and 13m beam with English flag. She was sunk in 1970. She was not carrying any load. Lies at -72m.
• MINORCA: With 68m length and 11m beam with English flag. She was sunk in 1970. Lies at -62m.
• PARTICIPATION: With 91m length and 12m beam with Italian flag. She was sunk in 1917. Her load was oranges. Lies at -62m.
• CAPRERA: With 93m length and 11m beam with Italian flag. She was sunk the 5th of February 1918, when she was sailing Genova-Gibraltar route in a cargo guard missions. Lies at -72m.
• In La Vila Joiosa it is also posible to dive to LONICA Shipwreck, an Italian Cargo flag sunk in June 1970 by unknown circumstances when she was on her way to Málaga. Her load was mat. Lies at -95m.

Diving centre: Ali-Sub

We recommend you...Technical diving in wrecks of La Vila. 1st World War