107 Years After a Torpedo Attack… We Dive the SS Polynesien

In 1918, a French ocean liner turned WWI troop transport — the SS Polynesien — was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank off the coast of Malta. 107 years later, we’re diving down to 68 meters (223 feet) to explore one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic deep wrecks. Welcome to another episode of DiveSAGA.

In this video, we travel to the island nation of Malta, a place shaped by centuries of conflict and maritime history. With the support of the Malta Tourism Authority and Underwater Cultural Heritage Malta, we descend to the SS Polynesien, a massive 152.5-meter (500 ft) World War One shipwreck resting in blue water 13 km off Valletta.

This dive pushes our limits: raging currents, strict bottom time, Trimix gas, and a straight descent to nearly 70 meters. Our team of divers and photographers — Jon Borg, Daniele Bertaggia, Nadine Bauer, and myself — work together to capture never-before-seen imagery of this breathtaking underwater archaeological site.

The SS Polynesien was built in 1890 as a passenger liner, later converted into a troopship, and sunk by German submarine UC-22 on August 10, 1918. Today, she lies preserved as a protected heritage site — complete with deck guns, cabins, cargo areas, a gigantic propeller, and countless details frozen in time.

From battling currents, to exploring the stern gun, to filming this enormous world-war wreck before decompression obligations force us back to the surface, this dive is a powerful reminder of the human stories tied to Malta’s underwater world.

If you're a diver, a history lover, or simply fascinated by deep wreck exploration, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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⌚ Here are the Time Stamps for you:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 The Story of the SS Polynesien (1918)
01:44 Malta Tourism & Underwater Heritage
02:33 Loading the Dive Boat
03:54 Assembling the Technical Dive Team
05:42 Starting the Dive
06:14 The Wreck of the SS Polynesien
09:11 The Massive Stern Gun
10:19 The Propeller & Deepest point of the Dive
10:47 Decompression and Epilogue

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🌊 Explore Underwater Malta’s 3D Shipwreck Models:

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📍 Locations & Partners

Malta Tourism Authority
Underwater Cultural Heritage Malta
Valletta, Malta

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✅ About Dive SAGA - Scuba diving.

Welcome to Dive SAGA, your destination for world-class scuba diving adventures and education. Led by award-winning SCUBA instructor trainer Nick Derutter, this channel explores the depths of our planet through the lens of history, science, and travel. From cave diving, technical and wreck diving to ice diving and more, Dive SAGA is built for passionate divers.

Whether you're a beginner dreaming of your first dive or an experienced diver looking to refine your skills, you'll find value in every episode. Dive SAGA features expert equipment reviews, career insights for aspiring dive professionals, and immersive footage from some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater locations.

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