NORDALE

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) - NORDALE 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 19m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Nordale, a trawler resting at 19 metres, is one of our favourite Scottish wrecks for sheer atmosphere. Sunk in 1942, she’s become a dark, brooding home for the local critters. We love dropping onto her deck, the outline of the vessel still very much intact despite the years. The main draw here is the engine room, surprisingly accessible if you’re comfortable with overheads. You can fin your way through, torch beam picking out the colossal boiler and the triple expansion engine, now draped in dead man’s fingers and hydroids. Visibility can be hit or miss, typical of the West Coast, but when it's good, you’ll see conger eels peering from every nook and cranny. Keep an eye out for enormous velvet crabs scuttling across the deck plates. We'd suggest diving this one on a slack tide to fully appreciate the details and to make those engine room explorations a little easier. It’s a cracker for anyone who enjoys a bit of history with their dive, and a great site for honing your wreck skills without too much depth.