The largest WW1 shipwreck in the British Isles - SS Justicia

The largest WW1 shipwreck of the British Isles was built on the same slipway as the Titanic and was nearly as large. It was so big that sinking it required two German submarines. A massive 225 metres (740 feet) long and 32,120 GRT, the SS Justicia was the second largest ship sunk in World War One. It was operated as a troop ship by the White Star Line until torpedoed on 20 July 1918.

The wreck now lies in nearly 70 metres off NW Ireland and is considered one of the Malin Head "Classics". I have dived it on multiple previous occasions but This was our check out dive at the beginning of a deep exped in 2022 so the video also includes a test of the deep bailout procedure. It didn't go totally to plan so you'll hear/see me describe what happened at the end of the video.

*Highlights*
00:00 Introduction
05:32 So big it took two submarines!
11:06 Famous photo!
15:06 Twelve massive scotch boilers
19:08 Train hard: fight easy!
26:12 The spare gas arrives .... but then it goes wrong
32:16 Decompression profile for a 70m dive

*CCR Training with Nick Viney*

*Mevagh Diving (Laura Dean)*

*Kit I Use*
Note, some of these are affiliate links so help support making my videos:
- Cameras are Paralenz Vaquita

*Like this video?*

[baino]

Awesome video as always. Nick has taken me through mod 1 and 2 training on the AP CCR top instructor highly recommended

[Teknosofen]

1000*Thanks again Dom for sharing and discussing dives that are not perfect! Good video and narration 🐸💪🫡

[chrisfarr]

Loving your videos.i did 40 years of wreck diving in Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. Always wanted to learn re-breather diving so I could do the wrecks of Truk Lagoon but just couldn't afford it. Thus your vids are so good to watch.

[anthonydegazon]

I love yours videos and look forward to them . I have a lot of respect for you, because of your video when you had to bailout . Most divers wouldn’t make a video showing there bail out . Please keep up the good work !

[davidbramley]

Been watching these dives for sometime. Very interesting stuff. Surprised it not found its way onto the history channels.

[MopHad]

As always, An aw-sum video. These things make me feel I should have started diving 20 years sooner but I do appreciate seeing these things from your vlogs rather than not seeing them at all.

[simonedwards]

Great footage Dom . I am finding all your videos fascinating and informative .. I was very privileged to have dived the deeper wrecks in Malta on OC when I was Tech diving and this footage brings back great memories ..

[shaunwest]

Great video Dom, what an amazing and huge wreck, must of been amazing to dive on, that must of been a bit nervy and confusing for you at the end of the dive😳, fair play to skip getting in to sort the problem, I hope it was warm 😅, nicely narrated again Dom👌👍

[chaingunner]

Stunning video and interesting backstory once again. Kudos for this.

[bas]

Top notch pronunciation of “Statendam” a Holland Amerika Lijn vessel. In that time still freighters but present Statendam is a huge cruise liner.

[harryclark]

Great video once again Dom, really interesting to see the emergency bailout procedures aswell. 👍

[topdiveribiza]

Thank you....loved the story and dive...fantastic presentation as always...

[georgekaplan]

Another amazing video. So clear on the bottom. Regarding coal consumption: some of the early liners such as RMS Aquitania were built so they could be converted to auxiliary cruisers but apparently it wasn't long before the Admiralty's coal bunkers were depleted.

[wib]

From my perspective, I see it as a rich experience to learn from mistakes. Thank you for sharing your experience. I congratulate you on your emotional stability during challenging situations. I saw a previous video of yours when your equipment was smuggled, and I learned a lot from it, especially that staying calm is the key to solving problems.

[omgsrsly]

I didn't know that Germany already had ocean-going submarines during World War I, given that aviation at that time consisted of biplanes made of fabric and wood.

[arkansasboy]

That was a great shot of Nick swimming over the boilers.

[jackmccall]

Well done, my diving is open circuit in Canada, Padi acuc and naui. Thanks for the dives Im not trained for.

[redphenix]

Lovely video Dom. Picture shown of white star liner identified in voice over as Titanic, was of her sister ship Olympic in dazzle camouflage when used as a troop transport during the First World War.

[negativentry]

Hi Dom, thank you for the amazing video! May I ask: Since we see you from the first person perspective most of the time. What is your heating system? I am guessing that you have one since these are quite long dives :)

[juanl]

Super cool. video! Quick question, @6:54, I can see you buddy has a light that mounted on his DPV. It looks like its a tovatec fusion, not sure if its 1500. How did he mount the light? just a simple decon tank rubber band? I have one that I'm planning to mount on my PDV but looking how other people did it.

Thanks and keep the videos coming!