BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY)

Protected Area

Magilligan Point

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY) offers some of Scottish West Coast's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeBlue Whales, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) · 112+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 55m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

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.

Typical BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY) Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Maximum depth 55m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:5217:4110h 50m daylightGolden hour 16:51

BARNSLEY (POSSIBLY) Wreck History

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.