BAKU STANDARD - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The *Baku Standard* is a proper piece of history, and we love a wreck with a story. Sitting upright at 44 metres, she’s a big tanker, over 100 metres long, sunk by a mine back in 1918. Dropping down, you hit the bow first, often shrouded in a green twilight, and the sheer scale starts to sink in. We always head for the midships, where the two huge boilers are, and the triple-expansion engine. It’s an imposing sight, everything encrusted with plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying in the current. Visibility can be a gamble, as with many East Coast sites, but when it’s good, the detail on the wreck is fantastic. You’ll find wolf fish tucked into crevices, their grumpy faces peering out, and often a few ling hanging around the deeper sections. Our favourite part is navigating the holds, seeing the huge cargo spaces now home to crabs and lobsters. It’s a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the challenge and the atmosphere of a deep, historical wreck. Come prepared for cold water, bring good lights, and a proper drysuit.

Location
Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
56.808610, -2.214358
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
44m

Wreck History - BAKU STANDARD

Year Sunk
1918
Vessel Type
tanker
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
3,708 GRT

The S.S. 'BAKU STANDARD' was a steam-powered tanker built in 1893 by the renowned W.G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. shipyard. For a quarter of a century, she plied the seas, a workhorse of the early oil industry. Her service coincided with the outbreak of World War I, a perilous time for merchant shipping. On February 11, 1918, while sailing off the Scottish coast, she became a target of the German U-boat UB-86. A single torpedo struck the vessel, sealing her fate. The 'BAKU STANDARD' sank beneath the cold North Sea waves, becoming another casualty of the unrestricted submarine warfare that defined the era.

Today, the 'BAKU STANDARD' lies at a depth of 44 meters, making her an exciting challenge for experienced and technically certified divers. The wreck is a classic North Sea dive: dark, atmospheric, and rich with history. Divers can explore the remains of this late-Victorian vessel, identifying key features like her two large boilers and the triple-expansion steam engine mentioned in her original specifications. The wreck is a poignant memorial to the Great War's maritime conflict, offering a deep, rewarding dive into a significant moment in history.

Marine Protected Area: Milton Ness

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Nearest Dive Centres to BAKU STANDARD

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