CONTENDER

Protected Area

Collieston to Whinnyfold 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 - CONTENDER 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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The *Contender* isn't your average trawler wreck. We love how she sits, upright and relatively intact, almost as if she just dropped anchor for a quick stop. Built in Aberdeen in 1930, you can still make out the lines of a working vessel, her single boiler a hulking presence amidships, and the triple-expansion engine a tangled sculpture of iron. We’ve found the stern section often holds the most interest, with lobsters tucked into every crevice and the occasional wolf fish eyeing you from the gloom. This isn’t a deep dive, but the Scottish East Coast can throw up some choppy conditions. Pick a slack tide and aim for a calm day to fully appreciate her. Visibility, even on a good day, means getting up close and personal, running your hand along the encrusted plating. It’s a dive for those who enjoy a bit of history, a bit of exploration, and don't mind a chill in the water. For us, it’s a proper, atmospheric wreck dive, full of character and the quiet hum of marine life getting on with things.