LOCH-NA-GAR (PROBABLY) - Scottish East Coast & Borders
The Loch-Na-Gar, or what we’re pretty sure is the Loch-Na-Gar, is one of those wrecks that just screams history. Lying in 26 metres, this iron barque turned dumb barge is a proper chunky beast. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale – 49 metres of iron structure that’s been down there since 1901. We love how the hull plates are still largely intact, creating these dark, inviting internal spaces for us to peer into. It’s an atmospheric dive, currents permitting, with light filtering through the North Sea gloom, giving everything a muted, ancient feel. You’ll spend your time tracing the length of the deck, imagining what life was like on board before she went down. Expect to see plenty of local residents: wrasse darting between the frames, decent-sized cod hanging out in the darker sections, and sometimes even a conger eel peeking from a pipe. Our favourite detail is the way the ironwork has become encrusted with soft corals and anemones, painting splashes of colour onto the rust. It's a dive that suits those who appreciate a solid, historical wreck, and who don't mind a bit of a chill in the water. Go on a slack tide for the best experience; it makes exploring those internal areas much more enjoyable.
- Location
- Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 54.855835, -1.261872
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 26m
Marine Protected Area: Durham Coast
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 LOCH-NA-GAR (PROBABLY)
- 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