Wreck of Count Schimmetman

Protected Area

Isle of May

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - Wreck of Count Schimmetman 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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Diving the *Count Schimmetman* feels like peeling back layers of history, though you’ll need a decent torch and a good attitude to truly appreciate it. This isn't a vibrant coral garden, but a stark, often gloomy encounter with a piece of the past, something we find immensely compelling. The wreck itself is reasonably intact for its age, settled on the seabed, providing a skeletal structure for crabs and lobsters to scuttle amongst. We love finning along the bow, imagining the ship's journey, the cold bite of the North Sea often adding to that sense of drama. Visibility here is notoriously changeable, so we’d always suggest aiming for slack water, preferably after a few days of settled weather, for your best chance to explore the debris field and the superstructure without fighting a current. It's a dive for those who appreciate maritime history and the eerie beauty of a sunken vessel, rather than colourful reef fish. Expect to see plenty of local crustaceans and maybe a curious seal, if you’re lucky.