BERRY BRETAGNE - Scottish West Coast

The Berry Bretagne is a fantastic wreck, definitely one of our favourites on the Scottish West Coast. It’s a fishing vessel, went down in 1963, and it sits upright on a seabed that gradually slopes to around 59 metres. What we love about it is how intact she still feels, even after all these years. You can follow the lines of the deck, see the winches, and even poke your head into the wheelhouse if you’re comfortable with a bit of overhead. The structure itself is a haven for life. Look for squat lobsters tucked into every crevice, big velvet crabs clambering over the metal, and often schools of saithe swirling around the mast. The visibility here can be superb on a good day, but it’s Scotland, so be ready for a bit of murk. Our tip: go during slack water, it makes navigating the deeper sections much more enjoyable. It’s a site that really rewards careful exploration and suits divers comfortable with colder water and deeper profiles.

Location
Scottish West Coast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.259415, -6.165156
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
59m

Wreck History - BERRY BRETAGNE

Year Sunk
1963
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
storm
Tonnage
312 GRT

The Berry Bretagne is a somber and challenging dive that tells a story of tragedy in the unforgiving waters of the North Atlantic. This French fishing trawler, based out of Boulogne, was fishing for cod off the rugged west coast of Scotland's Isle of Lewis in the winter of 1963. On Valentine's Day, the vessel and its 18 crew members were caught in a hurricane-force storm that battered the region.

Despite a desperate final radio message, the Berry Bretagne was overwhelmed by the colossal seas and foundered, sinking with the loss of all hands. The loss was a devastating blow to the tight-knit fishing community back home, and the wreck became a sea grave for the men who perished aboard her. For decades, her exact location remained a mystery, known only to a few local fishermen.

Lying at a depth of 59 meters, the Berry Bretagne is a dive reserved for experienced technical divers. She sits upright on the seabed, remarkably intact despite the violence of her sinking. The nets are still spooled on their drums and the trawl doors are visible, a ghostly testament to her final voyage. It is a poignant and deeply moving dive site, treated with respect as a memorial to the fishermen who lost their lives on that stormy night.

Marine Protected Area: Rathlin Island

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to BERRY BRETAGNE

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