CUMBERLAND

Protected Area

Rathlin Island

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) - CUMBERLAND 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 5m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Cumberland isn't about depth or big fish. This is proper history you can touch, right there in the shallows of the Scottish West Coast. We love how accessible it is, sitting practically in five metres of water, perfect for an extended rummage or even a snorkel on a calm day. She was a barque, sunk back in 1815, and while the wooden structure is long gone, her cargo of slate slabs and bottles remains. It’s like diving through a scattered archaeological dig. You’ll find rows of perfectly stacked slate, some still bound together, and everywhere, broken green glass bottles. Sunlight filters through the kelp canopy, playing on the dark rock and creating these lovely dappled patterns. Our favourite bit is spotting the crabs scuttling amongst the debris and the tiny blennies peeking out from under the slate. It’s a quiet, contemplative dive, a real window into a different time, and a fantastic option when the weather further out is less than ideal.