James Egan Layne

Dive Site: James Egan Layne

Location: 50°19.54N; 4°14.65W

Description: 7,000 ton wreck

Length: 130 metres (427 feet)

Depth: 24 metres (79 feet)

Visibility: 15 metres (50 feet)

The James Egan Layne is an old American Liberty ship which was torpedoed by a German U boat in 1945.

This 130 metre vessel is one of the most dived wrecks in the UK due to it’s relatively shallow depth and is only 20 minutes out from Looe or 30 minutes from Plymouth.

When sunk it was broken into two halves, the main section is the bow half which lays upright on a sandy bed in 24 metres. You can reach the deck at around 11 metres.

The ‘Egan Layne’ has been well dived over the years and some major features like the bridge have broken away due to the weather and sea conditions but it still makes a fantastic dive due to the amount of fish life. You will find many wrasse, pollock, cod, lobsters etc.