DESABLA - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The Desabla is a proper beast of a wreck, a massive tanker that went down in 1915. At 128 metres long, she's spread out across the seabed, giving you a proper exploration. We love the sheer scale of it, and the fact that you can really get a sense of her history as you swim along her hull. You'll find her boilers standing proud, often shrouded in a shoal of coalfish, and the triple expansion engine is still mostly intact – a truly impressive piece of engineering now home to crabs and lobsters. The visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is on the East Coast, but when it's good, say 8-10 metres, the sheer size of the wreck really hits you. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide, otherwise the current can make navigating the larger sections a real workout. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a deep, substantial piece of maritime history. Expect a deep dive, around 50 metres, so plan your gas accordingly. Even on a dim day, the sheer outline of the Desabla emerging from the gloom is something to behold.

Location

Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

56.433240, -1.485014

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

50m

Marine Protected Area: Firth of Forth Banks Complex