Wreck of Fern
Protected Area
Gruinart Flats, Islay
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 Fern offers some of Scottish West Coast's richest wreck diving.
The Fern, a former fishing trawler, sits upright on the seabed off the Scottish west coast, and we think she’s a cracking dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. This isn’t a gentle drift over a shallow reef; currents can be lively here, so timing your dive with slack water is key. We’ve spent hours exploring her wheelhouse and engine room, where light streams through gaps, illuminating dense shoals of pollack. Look closely among the deck plating for squat lobsters, and keep an eye out for dogfish tucked into crevices. The wreck has become an artificial reef, draped in dead man’s fingers and home to plenty of wrasse darting between the rusty superstructure. We love the eerie quiet inside the hull, a real sense of history down there. It’s a proper dive, one where you earn the experience.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
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