BERKSHIRE

The Berkshire did not sink by accident or act of war, but by design. It is a blockship, an old vessel intentionally scuttled at a strategic location to obstruct a channel and prevent enemy ships, particularly submarines, from entering a protected anchorage. This tactic was widely used by the Royal Navy during both World Wars to defend key naval bases like Scapa Flow and other vulnerable inlets along the British coastline. The Berkshire, likely an aging cargo ship at the end of its service life, was sacrificed for the greater good, filled with concrete or rock and sunk to become part of a silent, underwater defensive line.

Lying in just 8 meters of water, the Berkshire is a fantastic shallow dive on the Scottish East Coast. Its accessibility makes it perfect for divers of all levels, from trainees on their first sea dives to experienced photographers looking for a long, relaxed dive. Over the decades, the wreck has transformed into a thriving artificial reef. Its steel skeleton is now festooned with colorful anemones, sea squirts, and sponges, while crabs and lobsters hide in its many crevices. The surrounding hull plates and seabed are often covered in thick kelp, creating a beautiful, swaying underwater forest that is quintessentially Scottish.