PRINCESS OF WALES (FORE SECTION) - Scottish West Coast

Dropping onto the Princess of Wales fore section feels like stepping into a time capsule, if that capsule was then violently ripped in half. Sunk in 1888 after a collision, this isn't some intact, upright vessel. Instead, you're faced with a tangled, impressive mess of metal, a testament to the sheer force involved. We love how the steam engine and boilers dominate the wreckage, all twisted and encrusted with plumose anemones, their white tentacles waving gently in the current. The depth, sitting around 59 metres, makes this a spot for experienced wreck divers comfortable with colder water and decent bottom times. We've often found small ling and conger eels tucked into the deeper recesses, and the sheer volume of invertebrate life is always striking – colourful nudibranchs clinging to plates of steel, squat lobsters scuttling in the shadows. It’s a dive that rewards careful exploration, slowly piecing together the story of a ship’s final moments. This isn't a quick tour, it's a deliberate unravelling of history beneath the waves.

Location
Scottish West Coast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.875755, -4.901181
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
59m

Marine Protected Area: Largs Coast Section

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to PRINCESS OF WALES (FORE SECTION)

Marine Life in Scottish West Coast

Home to 127 recorded species including 50 reef fish, 15 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 9 sharks & rays, 8 other, 7 crabs & lobsters.

Notable Species