wreck

Log This Dive

HMS BORDER LADS

HMS BORDER LADS sits at 25m, a solid mid-range depth for Scottish wreck diving. This isn't a massive cargo ship, she's a smaller steam trawler, built in 1914, drafted into Admiralty service, and likely torpedoed in 1918. We love how intact the bow is, often sitting proud of the seabed, pointing south. You can still make out the forecastle deck and the anchor chains leading off into the gloom. Dropping down, the triple-expansion engine and the single boiler are the real showstoppers. They rise up like industrial sculptures, covered in dead man's fingers and anemones. Look closely in the engine room for the scuttling lionfish, an invasive species, but an interesting sight here. Our favourite part is exploring the stern, where you can often spot large conger eels peeking out from under plating. Visibility here can vary wildly, sometimes it’s a murky green, other days a surprisingly clear emerald. We'd suggest aiming for slack water, always, to avoid fighting the current. It's a great wreck for those who appreciate the history and the way the sea reclaims these old vessels.