HARLEY (PART OF)(POSSIBLY) - Scottish East Coast & Borders
We’ll be honest, the Scottish East Coast can be a tough mistress, but the Harley offers a proper wreck dive for those who don’t mind a bit of a chill. This isn’t a shallow reef bimble; dropping to 50 metres, it’s a dark, atmospheric dive that really pulls you into its history. Sunk in 1944, probably overwhelmed by weather, the ship’s structure is still quite recognisable, a testament to its solid build. What we love about the Harley is the sense of discovery. You drop down onto the deck, the light fading quickly as you descend. The stern section is particularly interesting, with the prop shaft leading back to the screw, often encrusted with dead man’s fingers. Inside, the boiler looms large, a ghostly reminder of the engine room. Keep an eye out for conger eels peering from dark recesses, and those vibrant plumose anemones clinging to every surface, catching what little light penetrates the depths. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the stark beauty of a cold-water wreck and the stories it holds. It’s a challenging dive, but one that leaves a lasting impression.
- Location
- Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.274500, -2.154417
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 50m
Marine Protected Area: Isle of May
Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish East Coast & Borders
- ABESSINIA - 2m (wreck)
- ACCLIVITY - 26m (wreck)
- ADAMS BECK (PROBABLY) - 52m (wreck)
- ADORATION (POSSIBLY) - 52m (wreck)
- AEPOS - 60m (wreck)
- ALASKAN - 43m (wreck)
- ALBANO - 49m (wreck)
- ALERT - 42m (wreck)
- ALEXANDER - 2m (wreck)
- AMSTERDAM - 38m (wreck)
- ANGELA - 18m (wreck)
- ANLABY - 20m (wreck)
- ANNETTE MARY - 15m (wreck)
- ANN MODROS - 36m (wreck)
- ANU - 7m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to HARLEY (PART OF)(POSSIBLY)
- Aquanorth - ["PADI"]
- Aqua Purists
- Deep Blue Scuba - PADI
- Deep Sea World Aquarium - ["PADI"]
- Libertas Scuba Stirling
- Newcastle University Sub Aqua Society - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Scottish East Coast & Borders
Home to 126 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 12 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 10 sharks & rays, 9 crabs & lobsters, 8 other.
Notable Species
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
- sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
- Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Edible periwinkle (Littorina littorea) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Acorn barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides)
- harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
- Common lobster (Homarus gammarus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) - Hard Corals
- bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
- butterfish (Pholis gunnellus) - Reef Fish
- grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish