wreck

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INVERURIE

The Inverurie, a wooden barque that came to grief in 1814, offers a surprisingly charming dive. At just eight metres, it’s a perfect introductory wreck, or a gentle bimble for those days when you’re not chasing depth. We love how the wooden timbers, though broken, still hold enough shape to give you a real sense of a ship, not just scattered debris. You’ll find sections of the hull, ribs reaching up from the seabed, and even some ballast stones, all now heavily encrusted. The soft corals here are particularly vibrant, oranges and purples providing splashes of colour against the silty bottom. Look closely amongst the timbers and you’ll often spot feisty velvet swimming crabs, their eyes peeking out, or a placid anglerfish doing its best impression of a rock. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is in the North Sea, but on a good day, with a gentle swell, the light filtering through the green water makes for some atmospheric photographs. Our tip: go on a rising tide for the best chance of decent viz. It’s not a dive for big pelagics, but for an accessible piece of history brought to life by North Sea grit and unexpected beauty, the Inverurie is a quiet winner.