Wreck of Appia

Protected Area

Maidens to Doonfoot

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) - Wreck of Appia 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

Diving the Appia is pure Scottish wreck diving, no frills, just history. We love that eerie feeling as the hull starts to resolve from the gloom, often with a good current pushing you along. This isn't a colourful reef dive, it’s a journey into the past, a chance to really explore something substantial. The Appia lies broken but still very much a ship, resting on her port side in about 30 metres. You’ll find her bow section largely intact, the stern more collapsed, but there’s plenty to penetrate for those with the right training – cargo holds still holding traces of their last load, the engine room a jumble of machinery. We always appreciate how the resident cod and ling have made themselves at home, darting between the frames. Keep an eye out for the odd wolf fish lurking in a crevice; they’re surprisingly common here. Visibility can be a challenge, swinging from a glorious 15 metres to a murky 5, so pick your day carefully, ideally on a slack tide to make the most of the exploration. It’s a site best suited for experienced cold-water wreck divers who appreciate a proper historical dive over tropical fish.