PTARMIGAN - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The PTARMIGAN isn't one for the faint of heart, or those who skip leg day. Lying at 49m, she’s a proper technical dive, but what a reward. This 11m fishing vessel went down in 1987 after hitting something unidentified, which just adds to the mystery. We love her plucky attitude on the seabed. The wreck itself is small, but perfectly formed. She sits upright, largely intact, and when the visibility is decent – which, let’s be honest, is a lottery here – you can get a real sense of her scale. We’ve had dives where the light filters down, creating an almost cathedral-like feel, illuminating the nets and gear still clinging to her structure. She’s become a home for a surprising amount of life. We’ve seen big wrasse darting in and out of her wheelhouse, velvet crabs scuttling over the deck, and often, those magnificent plumose anemones waving like feathery fans from every available surface. It’s a quiet, reflective dive, perfect for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the history and the challenging depth. Our favourite time to dive her is on a slack tide, obviously, to truly soak it all in without fighting the current.

Location

Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

56.141300, -2.470633

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

49m

Marine Protected Area: Isle of May