COASTAL EMPEROR

Protected Area

Donmouth

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - COASTAL EMPEROR 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 1m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Coastal Emperor, what a beauty. She’s a trawler, sank back in '78, and we love her because she’s so accessible. Sitting in about 10 meters, she’s a fantastic introduction to wreck diving, especially in the North Sea. The bridge structure is still quite intact, and we often find ourselves poking around the wheelhouse, imagining the old skippers. You can get into the engine room, too, if you’re comfortable with a bit of overhead. For critters, she’s a magnet. Lobsters often peer out from under plating, and the resident conger eels are usually pretty visible, coiled up in pipes. We’ve seen juvenile cod tucked into nooks and crannies, and those vibrant jewel anemones add a surprising splash of colour against the steel. The visibility can be hit or miss, typical for Scotland, but on a good day, when the sun penetrates, the whole wreck shimmers. It’s not a deep dive, which means plenty of bottom time to really explore her character. We’d suggest going at slack tide, it just makes the whole experience much more relaxing.