Ramon Meumbru

Located just outside Cavalaire harbour, around 400 m south-east of the jetty, this cargo ship sank in strange circumstances in 1921 to a depth of 22 metres.

Originally from the port of Barcelona, this ship was around fifty years old when it sank. She had previously been known as Elguezabal, Ballesteros n°2 and Derwent. Built in Hull, England, she was a cargo ship of 1,153 tonnes, 80 metres long and 11 metres wide. Its 146 hp engine enabled it to move forward quickly. With its five watertight bulkheads, it was solid and should have been protected from sinking.

In June 1921, the Ramon Meumbru rammed into the Enfer reef, then hit the helm and rammed into Cap Lardier. All day long, its boats went back and forth with suitcases containing cigars on the nearby beach. A tug from Toulon came to refloat her, but the Ramon Meumbru burst into flames at anchor the following night. Since then, the divers have salvaged everything that could be salvaged, giving the wreck the appearance of a shapeless mass.


FAUNA AND FLORA
The wreck rests on a flat seabed of sand and posidonia, with schools of sauper grazing peacefully. A few sparaillons, girelles, castagnoles and red scorpion fish are also present. Groupers, capons, conger eels and moray eels have also taken up residence here. You'll need a headlamp to appreciate the sheltered fauna (lobsters and crayfish can also be hidden in the tangle of wood and metal sheets...).

WE LIKE :
- the sheltered site,
- the passing wildlife (shoals of barracuda, amberjacks, etc.).

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
- Location: just outside Cavalaire harbour
- Level of difficulty: easy
- Diving: Level 1 and above
- Remarks: Beware of the frequent passage of boats in and out of the port during the summer.

Types of customer :
Scuba divers: CMAS Level 1, PADI open water.