ASTA (PROBABLY) - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The Asta sits deep, 58 metres down, a proper technical dive and one we reckon is worth the effort on a good day. She’s a steamship, built in 1883, and went down in 1927. You can feel that history in the cold, dark water when you drop onto her. What we love about the Asta is how intact she is, considering the depth and the conditions. You’ll find two massive boilers standing proud, and the triple expansion engine is still recognisable, a real feat of engineering frozen in time. The visibility here can be challenging, but when it clears, the wreck becomes an artificial reef. Crabs scuttle over the plating, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large lobsters tucked into crevices. It’s a site for experienced wreck divers, certainly, those who appreciate the quiet solitude of a deep historical wreck and the skill required to explore it safely. Plan your dive meticulously, watch your gas, and you'll have a fantastic encounter with a piece of maritime history.

Location
Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
56.168316, -2.360617
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
58m

Wreck History - ASTA (PROBABLY)

Year Sunk
1927
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm
Tonnage
1,154 GRT

With a career spanning over four decades, the steamship ASTA had a long and storied life on the seas. Launched in 1883 by Palmer's Co Ltd in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she sailed under several names, including Allende, Forest, Fingal, and Larnace, reflecting her changing owners and routes. By 1927, owned by the Swedish company A/B Maritine, the aging vessel was a testament to the durability of late Victorian shipbuilding.

In December 1927, while steaming through the notoriously rough North Sea, the ASTA was caught in a severe gale. Battered by the waves, the old ship began to take on water and eventually foundered on December 15th, sinking beneath the waves. Today, she lies at a depth of 58 meters off the Scottish coast. This depth places her firmly in the realm of technical diving, a challenging decompression dive reserved for experienced and properly equipped teams. Divers who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a classic steamship wreck, with its triple-expansion engine and boilers providing a focal point on a site that has been reclaimed by the cold, dark waters of the North Sea.

Marine Protected Area: Isle of May

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Nearest Dive Centres to ASTA (PROBABLY)

Marine Life in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Home to 126 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 12 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 10 sharks & rays, 9 crabs & lobsters, 8 other.

Notable Species