Wreck of Maid Of Harris

Protected Area

Calgary Dunes

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 Maid Of Harris 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 Maid of Harris on Scotland’s west coast feels like stepping into a cold, liquid time capsule. We think she's a proper adventure for divers who don't mind a bit of a chill for some genuine history. You’re descending onto a fishing trawler, sunk in the 1950s, so everything below is distinctly Scottish in its ruggedness. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, which is our favourite part to poke around, and the engine room offers some tighter squeezes for those with the right training. The wreck itself sits upright, often shrouded in a fine particulate that gives the whole scene a ghostly atmosphere, especially when the light filters down. Look closely and you'll spot plenty of wrasse darting between the deck plating and the occasional inquisitive conger eel peering from a darkened hold. Visibility can be a bit variable, as it often is in these parts, but when it clears, the outlines of the Maid are beautifully defined against the green-blue water. We always recommend a good torch; it really brings out the textures of the encrusting anemones and sponges that have colonised her steel hull. Best dived on a slack tide, otherwise, you'll be working harder than you need to against the pull.