Wreck of Michael John

Protected Area

Crossapol and Gunna

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 Michael John 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 Michael John wreck isn't about tropical colours. It's about atmosphere, history, and that raw, wild feeling of diving in Scotland. We love how the wreck sits upright, remarkably intact for a vessel sunk way back in 1904. Dropping down, you’ll start to pick out the distinct lines of the fishing trawler, her bow still pointing proudly into the gloom. Visibility here can swing, but on a good day, the sense of scale is impressive. We usually find loads of plumose anemones clinging to the superstructure, their feathery tentacles swaying with the gentle surge. Look closer in the shadowed crevices and you might spot a squat lobster or a velvet crab scuttling away. Penetration is really only for the experienced, but there’s so much to explore on the exterior, from the deck fittings to the stern where the rudder still sits. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration and a keen eye for detail, ideal for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate maritime history and temperate water life.