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Ocean Venture
 Va Beach, VA
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Max Depth: Over 150ft/46m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Ocean Venture is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Va Beach, VA. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m.
Year Built 1941
Date Sunk 8 February 1942
Depth 160 feet
Gross Tonnage 7,174
Dimensions 425’ x 57’ x 34’
Vessel Type Freighter
Power Coal Fired Steam
Builder Todd-California Ship Bldg., Richmond CA
Owner Ministry of War
Location 26913.8 41495.0
Home Port London England
Cause of Sinking Torpedoed by U-108
In Brief
On her maiden voyage, filled with the goods needed by the British War Ministry, the Ocean Venture left San Pedor CA and traveled through the Panama Canal and on towards the coal depots of the Chesapeake Bay for refueling prior to the crossing that would take her back to Britain and into the war.
As the captain steered his ship towards the bay it was struck amidship by a torpedo fired by the U-108 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Scholtz. A few minutes later a second torpedo, and then twenty minutes later a third torpedo dealt the floundering ship it’s death blow. 32 souls were lost and 12 survived after 36 hours afloat in the February mid-Atlantic cold.
The bow is intact and lying on it’s side and a fifty foot section of stern lies cantered to port and the bridge lies upside down alone on the port side of the wreck.
Visability can range upwards of 50 feet and there are plenty of reminders of the violent blows that brought this maiden voyage to an abrupt end.
Source "Shipwrecks of Virginia" Gary Gentile 1992
37 04.166N 74 55.127W
From;
http://www.capt-jt.com/Wreck_Info.htmThis wreck does not hold good memories for me as I saw a diver lose his life here. The wreck sits in a
160 fsw and is a great dive. It has a lot of artifacts on her and is not dived very much. This site should be a stepping stone for those who are ready. Do not go to dive here unless you are a proven deco diver and I believe one should have already done many cold low vis dives before moving on to these deep wrecks
Vessel is a Freighter 425 x 57 x 34