BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY) - Scottish West Coast

The Barnsley, or what we strongly suspect is the Barnsley, is one of those deeper wrecks off the Scottish West Coast that really grabs you. Down at 55 metres, she’s a trawler, sunk by a German submarine in 1917, and her story adds a chill to the cold water. We love the way she sits upright, mostly intact, a ghostly outline emerging from the gloom. Dropping down, the visibility here can be surprisingly good, sometimes 15 metres, sometimes a bit less, but enough to appreciate the scale. You’ll see the bow first, then the deck fittings, all draped in anemones and dead man’s fingers. Conger eels are often tucked into the deeper recesses, peering out, and we’ve seen some enormous ling patrolling the edges of the wreck. Exploring the holds is a treat, especially if you’re comfortable with a bit of overhead. We’d suggest a strong torch; the ambient light doesn’t reach much past the deck. This is a dive for experienced technical divers, comfortable with cold water and decompression, and it’s always worth checking the tides for the slack window to avoid a workout.

Location
Scottish West Coast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.597084, -7.264333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
55m

Wreck History - BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1917
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
scuttled

The wreck tentatively identified as the trawler Barnsley tells a dramatic story of naval warfare on the Scottish West Coast. During World War I, humble fishing vessels like the Barnsley were often prime targets for German U-boats, both to disrupt food supplies and eliminate potential surveillance craft. On February 13, 1917, this trawler had the misfortune of encountering one such submarine.

Instead of being sunk by a torpedo, the crew was forced to abandon ship before the German sailors boarded her. They then deliberately scuttled the vessel using explosives, a common practice to conserve valuable torpedoes. Lying at a depth of 55 meters, this wreck is a challenging technical dive reserved for experienced, suitably qualified divers. Those who make the descent are rewarded with a well-preserved piece of WWI history, a small vessel sitting upright on the seabed, telling a silent story of its capture and deliberate sinking in the cold, clear waters of Scotland.

Marine Protected Area: Magilligan Point

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY)

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