BOY SHAUN
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) - BOY SHAUN offers some of Scottish West Coast's richest wreck diving.
The *Boy Shaun* is one of those wrecks that just captures your imagination, even if she's not the biggest out there. We love a good story behind a dive, and this one, with its conflicting accounts of an explosion versus a rogue wave, just adds to the atmosphere. Dropping down, you hit the deck at around 40 metres, and the wheelhouse, though a bit collapsed, is still recognisable. It’s not a massive wreck, only 10 metres long, but it’s remarkably intact for something that went down so dramatically. Penetration isn't really the play here, but the character of the wreck itself is enough. We’ve seen conger eels poking out from beneath plates, and the resident pollack are usually curious, circling around you. It’s a dark dive, as you’d expect at this depth on the Scottish west coast, but that just makes the beam of your torch pick out the details – the anchor chain still coiled, the outline of the engine room. It’s a serious dive for experienced cold-water wreckies, requiring a solid trimix plan, but the rewards are there. It's a proper deep wreck experience without being ridiculously remote.
Typical BOY SHAUN 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 60m 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.
BOY SHAUN Wreck History
Year Sunk
1987
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
storm
The Boy Shaun was a small 10-meter fishing vessel that met a tragic end off the Scottish West Coast on September 20, 1987. The story of its sinking is shrouded in conflicting reports, adding a layer of mystery to the dive. An official account mentions an explosion on board, but the sole survivor stated that the vessel was struck by a huge wave, causing it to capsize and sink rapidly. Whatever the true cause, the Boy Shaun was lost to the sea, coming to rest on the seabed at a depth of 60 meters.
Today, this wreck is a challenging and rewarding technical dive. Given its depth, it is strictly for experienced trimix divers. The vessel is small and likely showing the effects of over three decades underwater, but it can be a fascinating target for those qualified to explore these deeper sites. Divers can expect to find a compact wreck, its fishing gear possibly still entangled, offering a poignant glimpse into the life of a working boat and the dramatic final moments before it sank.
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