Wreck of Ethel Crawford

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 Ethel Crawford 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 Ethel Crawford is less about finding a pristine, intact wreck and more about exploring a site that feels genuinely ancient, a real piece of history resting on the seabed. She’s broken up, certainly, but that’s part of her charm – you're navigating through scattered debris and the skeletal remains of a steamship that went down way back in 1904. We love how the metalwork has been utterly colonised by local life; expect to see massive plumose anemones, often in a kaleidoscope of white and orange, swaying gently on every available surface, with crabs scuttling amongst the plates. It’s an atmospheric dive, often with that distinctive Scottish green tint to the water, which only adds to the sense of discovery as you move between the larger sections of the hull. Our favourite moments here are always spent peering into the darker nooks, torch beam cutting through the gloom, looking for ling or conger eels tucked away. This site suits divers who appreciate history and macro life over grand structures, and who don’t mind a bit of a current to keep things interesting. Best dived on a slack tide to really make the most of poking around.