Wreck of Duke Of Edinburgh

Protected Area

Ailsa Craig

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 Duke Of Edinburgh 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

Now, if you're like us and fancy a bit of a proper dive, the *Duke of Edinburgh* delivers. This isn't some sun-drenched, easy-peasy Caribbean drift. No, this is proper Scottish diving, and we love it for that. She's a big old girl, an armoured cruiser that went down in 1917, and she’s lying on her port side, broken but still impressively intact in parts. Dropping down onto her feels like entering a time capsule. You'll navigate through vast compartments, spotting the remnants of her impressive weaponry. We've spent hours exploring the forward guns, their barrels still pointing out, almost defiant. Look closely, and you'll find wolf-fish tucked into crevices, their grumpy faces staring out, and plenty of plumose anemones, their feathery tentacles swaying in the gentle surge. It’s dark down there, often a bit silty, so good buoyancy and a powerful torch are essential. This one's really for experienced cold-water wreck divers who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a challenge. The sheer scale of her and the sense of history make it one of our favourite UK wrecks.