SS POLYNESIEN (OCEAN LINNER) MALTA - 70 meters.

The shipping side of the government-owned 'Messageries Nationales' was split in 1852 under the name 'Compagnie des Services Maritimes des Messageries Nationales' and by 1857 it owned 57 ships. In 1871, the company became 'Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes'. In 1904 the fleets of Compagnie Francaise de l'Est Asiatique and Compagnie Nationale de Navigation were taken over.

Polynesien SS was French Ocean passenger(243 people) steamer of 6,373grt that was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC-22 when 7 miles off Grand Harnour , Valetta, Malta on the 10th August 1918 when on route from Marseille & Bizerta for Salonica. 

Built in 1890, the passenger Ocean liner Le Polynesian. with a length of 152 meters 15 meters high 10 meters wide her size is unimaginable till you see her.

Her depth has protected Le Polynesien’s treasures from plunderers, unlike those of more shallow wrecks. Inside you can still find a lot of china and other objects that bear witness to the times when the steamship operated first as a cruise liner and later as an armed troop transport,Now, huge decks lie open to divers who enter the wreck through various holes and hatches.

Everywhere, covered in silt, marine growth and shells, are artefacts that remind us of the days when the decks were filled with cruise guests and, later, soldiers. Here lies a plate; there a serving tray that was perhaps held up by a waiter, laden with drinks for the passengers. 

I remember one dive i had on her the visibility was great but we had strong current, i looked down and i could see the shot line curled up on the anchor and looking from 36 meter i cant believe we missed the wreck,until we got to 45 meters and realized i was looking at the porthole,sitting on the mid deck at 56 meters we head off to the stern and drop down inside the wreck post of all the walls have gone making it easier to swim through,the deck below was filled with light filtered through various openings. dropping deeper into the wreck you can still find lots of artifact bottles of perfume or bottle of red wine but she is littered with 3 types of plates so with markings and some are just plain white and then you have the ship markings on the plate rim.

still with the deck guns fitted aiming slightly up this time they didnt help save here, the prop is the jaw dropping feature and it just make you feel so small... with the shallow end of the wreck at 55 meters the prop being the deepest at 70 meters.

Photo by Joe sultana

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