MAPLE BRANCH

Protected Area

Mingulay and Berneray

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) - MAPLE BRANCH 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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Maple Branch, sunk off Sandray Island back in 1897, really is a testament to how the Scottish West Coast can deliver a proper wreck dive. It’s a big steamship, nearly a hundred metres long, and while the stern is pretty broken up, the bow section is actually quite intact. We love how much of the hull is still standing proud from the seabed, giving you a real sense of its scale. Dropping down onto it, you’re often greeted by the murmur of current, but it’s usually manageable, just enough to bring in the critters. What we really appreciate here are the shoals of saithe and pollock that hang around the superstructure; they’re often so dense you can lose sight of your buddy for a moment. Keep an eye out for the plumose anemones, too, covering every available surface in a fuzzy white blanket – they’re particularly beautiful swaying gently in the flow. Our favourite part has to be exploring the forward holds. You can often swim down into them, feeling the cool shadow, and finding crabs tucked into crevices. The visibility can vary quite a bit, but on a good day, when the sun penetrates the green water, the atmosphere is just something else. It suits experienced divers who appreciate the history of a wreck and aren’t afraid of a bit of an adventure.