G-ATSE - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The G-ATSE isn’t your typical deep, dark wreck dive. This light aircraft, a Handley Page Dart Herald, sits in the Tay Estuary, just off the Tay Road Bridge, and it’s shallow. Really shallow. At five metres, it’s an ideal second dive or a quick dip for those who appreciate the historical context more than the depth. We love the sheer accessibility of it; you can practically wave at the traffic above. What you'll find is a surprisingly intact airframe, scattered across the silty bottom. It broke up on impact back in 1978, but the main fuselage sections and wings are still recognisable. It’s eerie to see the cockpit section, a silent testament to its past life. Vis here can be a bit of a lottery, typical of an estuary, but on a good day, the ambient light makes everything pop. Look closely around the twisted metal – we’ve seen crabs scuttling through the fuselage and small blennies peeking out from under the wings. It’s more of a rummage than a penetration, but the character of the wreck more than makes up for it. We'd suggest timing your dive for slack water, preferably on a neap tide, to get the best conditions and avoid being swept around. It’s a unique piece of history, easily accessible, and a great way to spend an hour underwater.

Location

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

Coordinates

56.458214, -2.901488

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

5m

Marine Protected Area: Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary