HARALD

Protected Area

South-East Islay Skerries

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) - HARALD 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 7m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Harald, a sailing vessel that ran aground in a fog back in 1909, offers a surprisingly engaging dive for its shallow depth. We love this wreck because it’s incredibly accessible and still gives you a real sense of its past. You're basically touring a skeletal ship, spread out across the seabed at just 7 meters. We often find conger eels peering from under plates, and there are always plenty of crabs scuttling over the hull sections. You can spend a good long bottom time tracing the lines of the old ship, imagining it in its prime. It’s perfect for those calm, sunny days when the light really penetrates, making the metal gleam a little. Our advice: go at high slack water to avoid any surge, and bring a torch – it helps pick out the details in the nooks and crannies. This site suits divers who appreciate history and don’t need deep water for a compelling experience.