ADROLIS - Scottish West Coast
Adrolis isn’t about depth, that’s for sure. At a maximum of five metres, it’s a brilliant site for a long, relaxed dive, especially if you’re into poking around the details. This wreck ran aground near the RJ Cullen, creating a pretty cool double feature. We love the way the two wrecks interact, almost like a ghost story of mistaken identity. What you’ll see are the distributed remains, and that’s part of the fun. It’s not one big structure, but scattered pieces, and each piece has its own ecosystem. Look closely at the metal plates; you’ll find nudibranchs, often some vibrant ones, and plenty of anemones swaying gently with the surge. Crabs often scuttle between the broken sections, playing hide-and-seek. Visibility here can be variable, so we’d suggest timing your dive for a slack tide on a sunny day if you can; the light filtering through the shallow water really brings out the colours on the encrusted metal. It’s perfect for new divers or anyone who just wants to take their time exploring a piece of history that’s become a home for the local critters.
- Location
- Scottish West Coast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.956966, -7.424211
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Wreck History - ADROLIS
- Vessel Type
- unknown
- Cause
- grounding
The story of the ADROLIS is a tragic case of maritime misfortune on the rugged Scottish West Coast. In a cruel twist of fate, the vessel ran ashore after its crew mistook the already stranded wreck of the R.J. Cullen for a ship safely at anchor in the distance. This fatal navigational error sealed its doom, adding a second wreck to this treacherous spot and serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of coastal navigation.
Lying in just 5 meters of water, the ADROLIS has been broken apart by the relentless wave action of the North Atlantic. Today, only distributed remains are left, scattered across the seabed amidst kelp forests and rocky outcrops. This makes for an interesting shallow dive or snorkel, especially for those keen on underwater archaeology. Divers can explore the debris field, piecing together the vessel's final moments while enjoying the vibrant marine life that thrives in Scotland's coastal waters.
Marine Protected Area: Eoligarry
Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish West Coast
- ACCORD - 9m (wreck)
- ADONO - 10m (wreck)
- AGATE - 10m (wreck)
- AGIOS MINAS - 10m (wreck)
- AKKA - 28m (wreck)
- ALBIA - 10m (wreck)
- ALEXANDER - 10m (wreck)
- AMY JANE - 52m (wreck)
- AMY (POSSIBLY) - 38m (wreck)
- ANGELA - 5m (wreck)
- ANNIE JANE - 29m (wreck)
- ANNIE MC FADYEN - 7m (wreck)
- ANNIE MELLING - 54m (wreck)
- ANWOTH - 0m (wreck)
- APERITIF 3 - 10m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to ADROLIS
- Aquaholics - ["PADI"]
- C&C MARINE SERVICES
- Eagle Divers NI - ["PADI"]
- Field Studies Council Millport
- Freedive Northern Ireland
- Fyne Diving - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Scottish West Coast
Home to 127 recorded species including 50 reef fish, 15 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 9 sharks & rays, 8 other, 7 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
- Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
- Devonshire cup coral (Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii) - Hard Corals
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) - Sharks & Rays
- Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Acorn barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides)
- Light-bulb sea squirt (Clavelina lepadiformis)
- bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Sand mason (Lanice conchilega) - Worms
- Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Edible periwinkle (Littorina littorea) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Star ascidian (Botryllus schlosseri)
- Common whelk (Buccinum undatum) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs