POLITICIAN (STERN SECTION)

Protected Area

Sound of Barra

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) - POLITICIAN (STERN SECTION) 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 5m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Politician's stern section, resting at a shallow 5 metres, is our favourite kind of dive: easy access, rich history, and surprising amounts of life. We’re talking about the famous ‘Whisky Galore’ wreck, and while the bottles are long gone, the atmosphere of that story still hangs in the water. We usually drop onto the huge propeller, its blades still reaching out, before moving forward to explore the intact engine room. Inside, you can fin through open spaces, past machinery encased in rust and anemones. Light spills in from above, illuminating shoals of small pollack darting between the girders. On a calm day, the visibility lets you appreciate the sheer scale of the stern, how it’s become an artificial reef. You’ll find squat lobsters tucked into every crevice, dogfish often resting on the seabed nearby, and nudibranchs grazing on the metalwork. It’s a dive that suits newer wreck divers or anyone who appreciates a relaxed potter with a strong narrative. Just be mindful of fishing line, it can get snagged.