SS Polynesien (1918) – Deep Wreck Dive at 68m | Malta Technical Diving

In 1918, a French ocean liner turned WWI troop transport — the SS Polynesien — was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank off the coast of Malta. 107 years later, we’re diving down to 68 meters (223 feet) to explore one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic deep wrecks. Welcome to another episode of DiveSAGA. In this video, we travel to the island nation of Malta, a place shaped by centuries of conflict and maritime history. With the support of the Malta Tourism Authority and Underwater Cultural Heritage Malta, we descend to the SS Polynesien, a massive 152.5-meter (500 ft) World War One shipwreck resting in blue water 13 km off Valletta. This dive pushes our limits: raging currents, strict bottom time, Trimix gas, and a straight descent to nearly 70 meters. Our team of divers and photographers — Jon Borg, Daniele Bertaggia, Nadine Bauer, and myself — work together to capture never-before-seen imagery of this breathtaking underwater archaeological site. The SS Polynesien was built in 1890 as a passenger liner, later converted into a troopship, and sunk by German submarine UC-22 on August 10, 1918. Today, she lies preserved as a protected heritage site — complete with deck guns, cabins, cargo areas, a gigantic propeller, and countless details frozen in time. From battling currents, to exploring the stern gun, to filming this enormous world-war wreck before decompression obligations force us back to the surface, this dive is a powerful reminder of the human stories tied to Malta’s underwater world. If you're a diver, a history lover, or simply fascinated by deep wreck exploration, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Join this channel to support our SCUBA productions and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkADALL6YXv8sMv2JCO8sXw/join DiveSAGA ✨ All Access Members get: 🔊 Member shout-outs 🚩 Production Photos and status updates 🎶 Access to the DiveSAGA Soundtrack 🧪 Access to the SCUBA SCIENCE scripts 📄 Acces To Dive Debrief videos ⌚ Here are the Time Stamps for you: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 The Story of the SS Polynesien (1918) 01:44 Malta Tourism & Underwater Heritage 02:33 Loading the Dive Boat 03:54 Assembling the Technical Dive Team 05:42 Starting the Dive 06:14 The Wreck of the SS Polynesien 09:11 The Massive Stern Gun 10:19 The Propeller & Deepest point of the Dive 10:47 Decompression and Epilogue Please visit my website to get more information: http://www.divesaga.com/ 🌊 Explore Underwater Malta’s 3D Shipwreck Models: https://underwatermalta.org 📍 Locations & Partners Malta Tourism Authority Underwater Cultural Heritage Malta Valletta, Malta 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@DiveSAGA/?sub_confirmation=1 ✅ Important Links to Follow 📰 Read SAGA MAGAZINE https://www.divesaga.com/magazine 📖 Get the BOOK "Career in SCUBA" https://amzn.to/32kpaja 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/divesaga Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/divesaga TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divesaga Website: http://www.divesaga.com/ 📩 For business inquiries: info@divesaga.com ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️ https://youtu.be/Tj7atB9hllc ▶️ https://youtu.be/hLb7Yx23VTQ ▶️ https://youtu.be/TiLmFTtY6C4 ▶️ https://youtu.be/9z8W5Sox3_A ▶️ https://youtu.be/6x1k0Vw1LX0 ▶️ https://youtu.be/G3cY0QT2cSE ▶️ https://youtu.be/PnFPiF_g2QI ▶️ https://youtu.be/Oe3OlP6Z8-s ▶️ https://youtu.be/RljqOptI0HM ▶️ https://youtu.be/6FbJCPFEVVA ▶️ https://youtu.be/AEQY2Re4Bpk ▶️ https://youtu.be/b3kQ17JCR6w ▶️ https://youtu.be/3syjvLOaz5M ▶️ https://youtu.be/JEptbzSKCxY ▶️ https://youtu.be/QhbRgP2RIWc ================================= ✅ About Dive SAGA - Scuba diving. Welcome to Dive SAGA, your destination for world-class scuba diving adventures and education. Led by award-winning SCUBA instructor trainer Nick Derutter, this channel explores the depths of our planet through the lens of history, science, and travel. From cave diving, technical and wreck diving to ice diving and more, Dive SAGA is built for passionate divers. Whether you're a beginner dreaming of your first dive or an experienced diver looking to refine your skills, you'll find value in every episode. Dive SAGA features expert equipment reviews, career insights for aspiring dive professionals, and immersive footage from some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater locations. For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@divesaga.com 🔔 Love scuba diving, shipwrecks, and deep-sea adventures? Hit subscribe for expert tips, gear reviews, breathtaking footage, and epic dive stories. https://www.youtube.com/@DiveSAGA/?sub_confirmation=1 🔎 Related Phrases: SS Polynesien WW1 shipwreck Torpedoed shipwreck Malta Deep wreck diving Malta 68m World War 1 wrecks in Malta Trimix dive to 68 meters Malta underwater cultural heritage wrecks French ocean liner WW1 wreck Best wreck dives in Europe 2025