Wreck of Lord Of The Isles

Protected Area

Milton Ness

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 Lord Of The Isles 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

The Lord Of The Isles is not your usual Scottish wreck. For starters, it’s a paddle steamer, which already sets it apart, but it’s the way she lies that really makes her special. Sunk in 1862 after a collision, she sits upright and largely intact, a rare find in these often-turbulent waters. We love descending onto her deck, the bow and stern sections still clearly defined, and even the paddle wheels are visible, though collapsing. The visibility here can be tricky, often a silty 5-8 metres, but when it clears, you get a real sense of her history. Ling and conger eels are common residents, poking out from the collapsed deckhouses, and we’ve often seen huge shoals of cod hanging over the main deck. This is a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a challenge with conditions. Our favourite spot is looking into the engine room, a dark maw now home to some impressively large wrasse. We'd suggest going in on a slack tide, that current can really rip.