Wreck of Helen Macgregor

Protected Area

Firth of Lorn

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 Helen Macgregor 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 Helen Macgregor isn’t just a pile of plates on the seabed, it’s a proper piece of history, and one we always enjoy revisiting. It sits in a pretty exposed spot, so we’d always recommend checking the forecast; a calm day makes all the difference here. When the conditions are right, though, it’s a cracking dive. You drop onto a fairly intact wreck, with the bow and stern sections still quite defined. We love finning along the deck, picking out details like the anchor chains and winches – you can really imagine the ship in its working days. There's usually a friendly congregation of wrasse darting between the plates, and the odd inquisitive conger eel peeking from a dark crevice. The holds are penetrable for experienced wreck divers, offering a chance to glimpse machinery now encrusted with colourful anemones. It’s a dive that rewards a slow pace, letting you soak in the atmosphere of a vessel reclaimed by the sea. This site is definitely for those who appreciate maritime history and don't mind a bit of a chill – it is Scotland, after all.