Divers brave deadly ‘Mount Everest of shipwrecks’as famed wreck breaks apart

The Italian liner Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Swedish liner Stockholm off Nantucket, Massachusetts, in July 1956.Divers have been drawn to the wreck for decades.(Bettmann via Getty Images)

Previously, Divers Alert Network, a nonprofit diving-safety organization, reported that the Andrea Doria was “rapidly deteriorating,” citing research from OceanGate, the company that later operated the Titan submersible that imploded during a dive to the Titanic in 2023.

That deterioration could eventually leave divers unable to experience the legendary wreck as generations before them have — even as it still attracts those willing to brave the risks while they can.

Haunted hull 

The Italian liner Andrea Doria collided with the Swedish liner Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on July 25, 1956 — sinking beneath the Atlantic the following morning.

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Remarkably, more than 1,600 passengers and crew were rescued from the Andrea Doria, according to theU.S.Coast Guard, which assisted in the rescue effort.

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Fifty-two people aboard both vessels were killed in the collision, according to the Coast Guard.

A key part of the Andrea Doria’s appeal is how accessible it can be to ordinary divers. 

But the Andrea Doria’s story did not end when itslipped beneath the Atlantic.

Divers have been drawn to the wreck for decades, lured not only by the challenge of reaching it, but also by the possibility ofrecovering artifacts and valuablesfrom the famed luxury liner.

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As of 2016, at least 17 scuba divers had died in connection with dives to the Andrea Doria, according to Divers Alert Network.

More than 1,600 passengers and crew, seen above, were rescued from the Andrea Doria following its collision with the Stockholm in July 1956.(Bettmann via Getty Images)

In 2017, British diver Steven Slater, 46, perished during an expedition to the Andrea Doria, bringing the total number ofdiving deathsto at least 18.

A key part of the Andrea Doria’s appeal is how accessible it can be to ordinary divers, said Davenport, who is also a certified scuba diver.

With decades of experience in maritime safety and search-and-rescue operations, Davenport said the Andrea Doria differs from other famous wrecks that may require a submarine to reach.

“Other wrecks likethe Titanic… are much deeper, and they require a submarine or some type of pressurized vehicle to get down to it,” said Davenport, who is based in Virginia.

“It’s considered the Mount Everest of dives because it’s so challenging, so dangerous.”

“This is a famous wreck that you can get to with scuba tanks.”

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But that doesn’t mean the dive is as easy as it may sound.

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Davenport said exploring the wreck requires extensive experience and preparation.“It’s considered the Mount Everest of dives because it’s so challenging, so dangerous,” he said.

The expert said the wreck is littered with nets, wires, fishing line and debris, some of which can move or hang inside the deteriorating vessel.

Divers have long been drawn to the Andrea Doria by the challenge of reaching the wreck and recovering artifacts and valuables.(Bettmann via Getty Images)

“It’s very easy to get tangled if you’re not careful,” Davenport said.

Adding to the danger, the Andrea Doria sank on its side — meaning divers who enter the wreck encounter stairways, corridors and other features turned sideways.

“You can easily get disoriented because then the stairs and everything are sideways,” Davenport said.

Despite the hazards, Davenport said the Andrea Doria can still be explored by divers with the right experience, training and preparation.

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Nearly 70 years after the Andrea Doria sank beneath the Atlantic, the famous shipwreck continues to attract divers despite its hazards.(Bettmann via Getty Images)

“A really, really experienced recreational diver could probably do this OK,” he said. 

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“If you’re an extreme diver, you’d like to go see this wreck before it can’t be seen anymore,” he added.