BJORNHAUG

Protected Area

Fife Ness Coast

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - BJORNHAUG offers some of Scottish East Coast & Borders's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 112+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 8m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Bjornhaug is one of those sites we always recommend for a relaxed wreck dive, particularly if you’re newer to the East Coast scene. Lying flat at a consistent 8m, it's a perfect spot for extending your bottom time and really soaking in the details. What makes her special are the boilers – they stand proud, almost like two sentinels, and are absolutely smothered in plumose anemones. When the current runs, they billow like white clouds, and we’ve spent many a dive just watching the colours shift under our lights. You’ll find the triple expansion engine here too, a sturdy relic now home to blennies and scuttling velvet crabs. It's not a huge wreck, but there’s enough structure to keep you engaged, tracing the outline of her hull in the sand. We often spot small schools of saithe darting around the steel plates. It's a proper gentle introduction to Scottish wreck diving, offering history you can touch without any serious depth or current worries.

Typical BJORNHAUG Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Today06:3417:2210h 48m daylightGolden hour 16:30

BJORNHAUG Wreck History

Year Sunk

1940

Vessel Type

cargo ship

Cause

grounding

In the early months of World War II, the steamship Bjornhaug was on a perilous voyage from Copenhagen to London. On April 5th, 1940, while navigating the Scottish coast, she fell victim not to enemy action, but to the treacherous coastline itself. The vessel ran aground on the notorious Balcomie Brigs, a jagged reef near Fifeness that has claimed countless ships over the centuries. Despite efforts to save her, the relentless power of the sea broke the ship apart, scattering her remains in the shallows.

Resting in a mere 8 metres of water, the Bjornhaug is a fantastic and accessible dive for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced photographers. The wreck is heavily broken up due to its shallow depth and exposure to the elements, presenting as a wide, scenic debris field rather than an intact ship. Divers can easily explore the ship's massive boiler, triple-expansion engine, and large sections of hull plating, all of which are now encrusted with colourful life. The dive offers a fascinating glimpse into both maritime engineering and the unforgiving nature of the sea, set against the dramatic backdrop of the infamous Carr Briggs reef system.