MERWEDE

Protected Area

Farne Islands

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - MERWEDE offers some of Scottish East Coast & Borders's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 112+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 49m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Merwede is one of our favourite deep wrecks off the Scottish East Coast, sitting upright and largely intact at 49 metres. She’s a proper dive, no doubt, requiring good planning and a calm day, but the rewards are there for technical divers. Dropping down, you’ll first pick out the mast, usually busy with small pollack darting about. The sheer scale of her hits you as you descend further, a dark silhouette against the murkier depths. We love exploring the bow, which always feels a little more dramatic, though the stern holds the triple-expansion engine, a beautiful piece of engineering that’s surprisingly exposed. Look closely in the nooks and crannies for squat lobsters and the occasional conger eel peeking out from behind a plating. There’s a quiet, historical weight to this wreck, having sunk in just six minutes after hitting a mine in 1918. It’s a powerful reminder of the North Sea’s past. For those with the training, it’s a dive that stays with you.