The Steamship Cuvier, built in 1883, displacing 2,299 Tons and measuring 100m long by 12m beam. She sank after a collision, at approx 5am, with the SS Douvre of Norway on the 9th March 1900 off East Goodwin lightship on a voyage from Antwerp to Brazil, under the command of Capt. William Spratly. The Dovre arrived in Dieppe with considerable damage, but no reports from her that she’d stopped after collision.
26 people lost their lives (the first passenger ship to do so in the 20th century); there were only three survivors, the lookout, the man at the wheel and the second officer. The Windsor picked up the survivors, from a capsized boat at 7am, all the others were presumed drowned. The captain and 3rd mate were seen to jump from the bridge, but did not survive. Following the collision (on the starboard quarter) the survivors stated that she blew her whistle for assistance, and shortly afterwards settled down by the stern and sank. Most of the men were in their bunks.
A court case followed but on May 14 the local court in Dieppe found the Cuvier alone to blame for the collision, and awarded the Dovre ‘2,400l’ for ‘damages, demurrage, and indemnity.
Diving: This large, 12m proud and intact wreck sits in 43m of water with the decks at 32m and the holds down to 35m, she had accommodation for 80 First Class Passengers.
There are several breaks along the length and the cabins for these passengers and holds are easy to identify with easy penetration into the holds which have lots of crockery in them.
The wreck is mid channel and gets some very good visibility, with lots of sea life. The breaks in the length allow you good views into the wreck.here are some nets but these are old rope one’s that lay flat and are easy to identify and avoid.
