Wreck of Express

Protected Area

Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs

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 Express 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

The wreck of the Express, a trawler that went down off the Scottish West Coast, is one of those dives that sticks with you. It’s not about huge pelagics or technicolor corals here; this is about atmosphere and history, a proper cold-water wreck dive. We love the way the Express sits upright, almost defiant, allowing you to really get a sense of its original form. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, and poking around its interior, you can almost feel the chill of the North Atlantic creeping in, even through your drysuit. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, sometimes twenty metres, sometimes a murky five, but that just adds to the adventure. When the light filters down, it catches on the jewel anemones and dead man’s fingers that have completely engulfed the metalwork. You’ll spot the usual suspects hiding in the shadows: conger eels peering from pipes, squat lobsters scuttling across the deck, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a curious seal might pop by for a look. This dive is best suited for experienced cold-water wreck enthusiasts who appreciate the quiet drama of a historical site over outright spectacle. We’d suggest a slack tide for the easiest exploration; the currents here can be surprisingly brisk.