JOHN PRESTON

Protected Area

Glas Eileanan

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) - JOHN PRESTON 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 15m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The John Preston isn't a huge wreck, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in character. Lying in a shallow 15 metres, this 1855 Welsh-built sailing vessel was caught in a force 10 gale off Lochaline Pier, Mull, back in 1882. We love that you can still feel that history, even with the way she’s broken up. You’ll find her scattered, with timbers, iron fastenings, and some really interesting ballast stones spread across the seabed. It's less about penetration here, more about exploring the debris field. The kelp sways thick overhead, and beneath it, you’ll spot velvet swimming crabs scuttling amongst the plates and blennies poking their heads from nooks in the decaying timbers. It’s a great site for photographers who enjoy macro subjects or for newer divers getting a feel for wreck diving without the depth. We'd suggest aiming for a calm day; even though it's shallow, the current can pick up, making sorting through the pieces a bit of a challenge. Our favourite is finding some of the old, hand-forged ironwork; it’s beautiful how the sea has sculpted it.