Wreck of Maria Gardella

Protected Area

Siccar Point

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 Maria Gardella 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 Maria Gardella wreck isn't your average Scottish rust bucket. What we love about this site is the way the wreck interacts with the surrounding seabed. She’s broken up, sure, but in a way that creates a brilliant habitat. You’ll find the bow section relatively intact, and it’s a great spot to peer inside. We often see conger eels tucked away in the darker recesses, their heads poking out from the shadows, and large schools of coalfish swirl around the superstructure. What really sells us on the Maria Gardella is the atmosphere. There's a tangible sense of history here, a real feeling of the ship’s past life. The kelp sways gently with the current, giving it a ghost-like quality, and the light, when it breaks through, plays tricks on your eyes. We'd suggest going on a day with good visibility, as it really enhances the scale of the scattered debris field. It’s a dive for those who appreciate exploring history and don't mind a bit of a treasure hunt amongst the wreckage. Just keep an eye on the currents; they can pick up surprisingly quickly.