English steam and sail freighter built in 1868, measuring 72 meters in length, 9 meters in beam, and 5 meters in depth. It sank on October 1, 1918, while traveling from Alicante to Sfax with a cargo of sulfur. It was sunk off the coast of La Manga, very close to Palos Cape, by gunfire from the German U-boat UB-49 (Adolf Ehrensberger), which sank the ship without warning, forcing the captain to order the hasty abandonment of the Francoli.
The crew of 26 men were rescued by the French steamer Saint Servant, whose men, armed with pistols, attempted to sink the UB-49 with their cannon, causing the U-boat to flee. They managed to rescue the crew and later disembarked the crew of the SS Francoli in the port of Alicante. Its captain, Levassor, received the Silver Medal from the Spanish Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons for this action.
The SS Francoli, El Azufre, or El Candelero, as we wish to call it, is today a wreck that rests on a sandy bottom, half-sunken and at a depth of about -45/50m, half-embedded and sunk in the sand, with its hull not protruding excessively from the bottom, off the coast of La Manga.
To dive here: For your health and safety, it is important that you do this dive without being tired or in poor physical condition. The use of your own dive computer is mandatory. Gloves, a flashlight, and a knife are recommended. Proven experience in drift dives is essential for performing safety stops without a line and without fixed references.
Qualification: Experienced Advanced Diver, TEC45 recommended
