Dive SS Minnewaska – WWI Shipwreck in Souda Bay, Crete

Explore the SS Minnewaska shipwreck in Souda Bay, Crete – a WWI British troopship sunk in 1916. Ideal dive for all levels with rich maritime history.Beneath the waters of Souda Bay, Crete, lies the wreck of the SS Minnewaska, a former luxury steam liner turned WWI troopship. Today, at a depth of 19 meters, this site offers an accessible dive and a remarkable historical experience.

From Transatlantic Liner to War Service

Built in Belfast by Harland & Wolff, Minnewaska was launched on 12 November 1908 and completed in 1909.
She was part of a “Minne-class” of ocean liners, operated by the Atlantic Transport Line on the London–New York route.
Her dimensions: about 183 m long, with a beam of 20 m.
Powered by twin quadruple-expansion steam engines, she could make about 16 knots.
Converted into a British troopship during WWI, transporting soldiers and artillery.
Armed with a defensive stern-mounted gun.

“SS” stands for Steam Ship, indicating steam-powered propulsion.

The Mine Strike – 29 November 1916

On 29 November 1916, while traveling from Alexandria, Egypt, to Thessaloniki, carrying ~1,800 troops and 200 crew, the Minnewaska hit a floating mine, about 1.5 nautical miles southeast of Souda Bay (Crete).

Captain Thomas F. Gates made a crucial decision: instead of abandoning ship immediately, he steamed full speed to shore beaching the ship to prevent sinking.
Evacuation took two hours and was carried out by several vessels: the trawler Danestone, drifters Principal, Trustful, and Deveronside, plus the destroyer HMS Grampus.
All lives saved.
Gates was awarded the Order of the British Empire for leadership.

After the Incident

By 1918 she was sold for scrap, and parts of the wreck were broken up on site, though some remains still lie underwater.
Remains of the wreck are still visible, forming part of Crete’s underwater heritage.

Historical Link: Her service ties into major historical events — troop movements in WWI, maritime warfare, and the broader story of how ocean liners were repurposed in war.

Diving Legacy: As a dive site, Minnewaska gives divers a “time capsule” — it’s not just a wreck, but a piece of history where visitors can trace history underwater.

Engineering & Design: Built by Harland & Wolff (the same firm that built the Titanic), her design reflects early 20th-century ocean-liner technology.