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ShipwreckSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

SM UC-41 — Tay estuary wreck

Dundee, Angus / Fife, United Kingdom

UC-41 is documented in two main hull sections off the Tay estuary. The local wreck account reports 22 m seabed depth and about 20 m over the highest remains.

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Featured Hero Photograph

Class reference: SM UC-44 after recovery into British custody, 1917–18. This photograph does not depict SM UC-41.
Class reference: SM UC-44 after recovery into British custody, 1917–18. This photograph does not depict SM UC-41. Proportional resize and WebP encoding.Underwood & Underwood / U.S. National Archives, 165-WW-330C-20, identifier 45511792 · Public domain — https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Source ↗
WaterMarine
AccessOffshore boat / supported wreck-diving expedition
ExperienceAppropriate wreck-diving training and local support; verify tidal access, actual depth, permissions and current conditions.
Maximum depth22 m seabed; about 20 m least depth in the published wreck account.
Best seasonSeasonal details pending
VisibilityVisibility varies

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Regional location and nearby land

Location map

Regional coastline view includes nearby land. No exact wreck or navigation position is inferred from historical loss reports.
Map areaTay estuary, Dundee and the Angus–Fife coast
Open regional map ↗
Map zoom level 6 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

UC-41 is documented in two main hull sections off the Tay estuary. The local wreck account reports 22 m seabed depth and about 20 m over the highest remains.

Shipwreck-only module

The wreck

This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.

Vessel type
German World War I Type UC II submarine
Year built
1916 (record year; launch date not established)
Year sunk
1917
Cause of loss
Lost on 21 August 1917 at the Tay approaches after a mine explosion and depth-charge attacks.
Present condition
Two principal hull sections, with published lengths approximately 18 m and 23 m.
Penetration guidance
External historical context only; no authorization for penetration, recovery or disturbance.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Depths are the published wreck-account values and remain subject to tidal and survey differences. A 2013 Dundee club attempt was aborted and is not represented as a completed dive. This record documents a wreck and its research history. It does not establish public charter availability or permission to visit. Confirm access with the responsible authorities and qualified local support; respect the site’s naval-heritage context.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Weather, currents and tidal access, depth and decompression exposure where applicable, low or changing visibility, entanglement, unstable or damaged metal and possible ordnance. Do not disturb remains or remove objects.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.