The SS Maine was a British steamship launched in 1905 as a 3600 ton cargo steamer with a triple expansion engine.
She was torpedo

Torpedo

The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...

ed and sunk on 21 November 1917 by a torpedo

Torpedo

The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...

 from UC-17

SM UC-17

SM UC-17 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I. She was ordered on 29 August 1915 and launched on 29 February 1916...

, about 10 miles off Dartmouth

Dartmouth, Devon

Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...

. She sank "gracefully, upright and on an even keel" and sits on shingle 36m at 50°12.750′N 3°50.955′W.

Torbay BSAC bought the wreck for £100 in 1962 and salvaged the bronze propeller; selling it for £800

Timing is key when diving on the Maine due to the tidal streams. Slack water lasts about 30 minutes and is 3 hours before and after high tide on spring tides.

See also

• Recreational diving
  Recreational diving
  Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
  
  
• Shipwrecks
• List of shipwrecks