wreck

Log This Dive

JAMES BARRIE

The James Barrie, oh, she’s a beauty and a half down there in Scapa. This isn't just another lump of metal on the seabed. We love how she sits upright, almost perfectly intact at 40 metres, making her feel like a ghost ship ready to sail. Dropping onto her decks, you’re immediately struck by the sheer scale – that long fishing trawler shape is unmistakable. Exploring the engine room is always our favourite part; the triple-expansion engine is still there, massive and imposing, almost like a sculpture. You can poke around the crew quarters too, imagining the daily life on board. We’ve seen conger eels coiled up in dark corners and plump lobsters scuttling away as you pass. The deck is carpeted in anemones and dead man's fingers, a riot of colour against the grey steel. Be ready for chilly water and potentially surge if there’s a swell running, but the visibility here can be surprisingly good, sometimes pushing 15 metres. It’s a dive that demands respect for its depth and conditions, so it's best suited for experienced wreck divers comfortable with longer bottom times and deco. But for those who make the effort, the James Barrie offers a truly rewarding journey into a piece of maritime history, beautifully reclaimed by the sea.