Wreck of Pansy

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 Pansy 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 Wreck of Pansy, a trawler lost in a gale back in 1904, lies broken but still proud on the seabed. We reckon it’s one of the best wreck dives on the Scottish East Coast for sheer atmosphere. You drop down onto a jumble of metal, beams, and plates, all draped in a thick carpet of plumose anemones – the sheer volume of them is incredible, a snowy landscape contrasting with the dark steel. We love to explore the stern section, where the prop shaft is still visible, often with a curious wolf fish peering out from beneath. Visibility can be a bit of a gamble, but on a good day, when the light filters down, the wreck takes on an almost ghostly appearance. It's a dive that rewards patient exploration; look closely, and you’ll find squat lobsters tucked into every crevice and the occasional ling slinking past. Pansy is a proper UK wreck dive, cool and moody, best suited for experienced divers comfortable with limited visibility and cooler temperatures. Our favourite way to dive it is on a slack tide, giving you plenty of time to really soak in the history and the marine growth.