HMS BREDA

Protected Area

Sanda Islands

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) - HMS BREDA 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 HMS Breda is just a cracker of a dive, a real standout on the Scottish West Coast. We love how accessible it is, sitting upright in only 7 metres of water. It means you can spend ages exploring without worrying about bottom time. This isn't some broken-up mess; she’s still very much a ship, remarkably intact given her age and how she went down. She was built as a luxury yacht, the Sapphire, for the Duke of Bedford before the war, and you can still sense that past when you glide past her structure. The Breda's a steel vessel, 86.9m long, and those sharp lines are now completely draped in dead man's fingers, a soft orange carpet that just glows, even on a grey day. Look closely, and you’ll spot plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying with the gentle surge. It's a fantastic spot for photography, especially with the ambient light filtering through. Our favourite tip? Go on a sunny day if you can; the light show through the superstructure is just something else. You'll find plenty of inquisitive wrasse and small shoals of pollack darting in and out of the holds. It’s a dive that suits just about anyone, from newly qualified divers getting their first taste of wreck penetration to experienced wreckies who appreciate a long, leisurely explore.