NOKOMIS

Protected Area

Portstewart Strand

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) - NOKOMIS 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 Nokomis wreck, nestled on the Scottish West Coast, is a proper old-school dive, and we love it for that. She's a barque that went down in 1884, and you really get a sense of that history when you’re down there. It’s not about huge pelagics or technicolour corals here, it's about the atmosphere. You’ll find her mostly broken up, spread across the seabed, but the bow and stern sections are still distinct enough to get a good feel for her former shape. We always recommend taking your time to explore the scattered debris field. It’s a fantastic place for photography, especially with the ambient light filtering through the green water. Look out for the resident wrasse and pollock darting between the metal plates, and the anemones that have carpeted the wreck over the decades. The site is pretty shallow, making it accessible for a good long bottom time, which we appreciate. It’s a great dive for those who enjoy exploring the bones of an old ship, imagining its past life rather than chasing big fish. Just remember, this is Scotland, so embrace the chill and the emerald hues.