U 1003

Protected Area

Magilligan Point

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) - U 1003 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 45m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The U 1003 sits deep on the seabed off the Scottish West Coast, a proper dive into history at 45 metres. We love how intact she is, a testament to her swift sinking after the collision with HMCS New Glasgow in 1945. Descending, you feel the cold embrace of the Atlantic, the visibility often decent enough to make out her entire 67-metre length appearing from the gloom. This isn't a brightly coloured coral reef, but a living museum. You’ll find her conning tower still standing proud, and we always suggest a careful fin around the deck, checking for open hatches. Crabs scuttle in the shadows, and we’ve seen some seriously chunky conger eels tucked into her torpedo tubes. The sheer scale of it, lying so perfectly preserved, is what really gets us. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the somber beauty of a wartime wreck and who are comfortable with depth and colder water. Don't forget a good torch; there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.