Rebreather team I.D. wreck off Marseilles

A team using British-built rebreathers has identified a shipwreck lying in 110 metres off Marseilles, France.

Following two years of investigative work and historical research, the wreck is believed to be the Marechal Canrobert.

It sank on July 7th 1892 close to the island of Le Planier, near the southern city of Marseilles.

Le Planier already boasts several diveable shipwrecks, including the Liban, Chaouen and a sunken Messerschmitt.

The Canrobert sank in just eight minutes following a collision with the armoured battleship Hoche. Five people died.

Using A.P. Diving’s Inspiration unit, Florent Locatelli’s French team of three descended to the sea floor at 108 metres.

There they found the 75 metre-long steamship in a remarkable state of preservation.

Using Trimix, the core divers had half an hour on the bottom at 110 metres, out of a total dive time of 4 hours and 20 minutes.