wreck

Log This Dive

PLADDA

Pladda, just off the coast near Stonehaven, is one of our favourite Scottish shallow wrecks. It’s barely two metres deep at high tide, which makes it perfect for a long, relaxed dive or even some keen snorkelling. You’ll find the remains of a steamship, the Pladda, which went down way back in 1890. What we love about this site is how accessible the history feels. The wreck itself is quite broken up, but you can still make out the boiler and sections of the hull. Visibility here can vary a lot, as with most of the Scottish East Coast, but on a good day, the light filters through the kelp beautifully, illuminating the twisted metalwork. We’ve spent ages just poking around the scattered plates, spotting blennies peeking out from crevices and small crabs scuttling across the growth. It’s not a site for big pelagics, but for macro life and historical interest in gin-clear, shallow water, it’s brilliant. If you’re into underwater photography, especially wide-angle shots of kelp-draped steel, Pladda delivers. We’d suggest going at slack water on a calm day for the best experience; it truly is a different world when the sun hits it right.