Wreck of Abraham Skalle - Scottish East Coast & Borders
Diving the Abraham Skalle is less about the big pelagics and more about the ghosts of the North Sea. We’re talking about an atmospheric dive, a proper piece of history swallowed by the waves. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the cold embrace, a stark contrast to warmer climes, but it’s part of the charm here. The visibility can be temperamental, shifting from a decent 10 metres to a silty five, so pick your day carefully, ideally on an incoming tide with minimal swell. What we love about this wreck is how intact she feels in parts, not just a pile of scattered debris. You can still make out the bow structure, the outline of her holds, even some deck machinery. It’s a shadowy, intriguing exploration rather than a quick swim-through. Keep your eyes peeled for ling and cod lurking in the darker recesses, and the anemones that seem to carpet every available surface, particularly the vibrant plumose varieties swaying gently in the current. This isn't a dive for beginners; the conditions can be challenging, but for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the solemn beauty of a sunken vessel, the Abraham Skalle is a genuinely rewarding experience. Bring a good torch and take your time; there’s a lot to absorb down there.
- Location
- Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.061085, -3.191709
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Firth of Forth
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 Wreck of Abraham Skalle
- 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