Wreck of Mountaineer

Protected Area

Glas Eileanan

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 Mountaineer 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 Mountaineer off the Scottish West Coast isn’t one of those wrecks that’s intact enough for much penetration, but what’s left is absolutely spectacular. We're talking about an old paddle steamer, and the remains are strewn across the seabed at a manageable depth, creating a fantastic artificial reef. What we love about this site is the way the metal ribs and plates have become completely encrusted. You’ll find an incredible amount of life here, particularly colourful anemones, huge plumose anemones, and often nudibranchs, especially around the more sheltered sections. It’s a riot of colour against the typically green-grey Scottish seabed. The scattered nature of the wreck means you can spend ages just exploring small sections, peering into crevices for crabs or spotting wrasse darting between the metalwork. We'd suggest aiming for a slack tide; the currents can be lively, and you want to be able to properly appreciate the sheer density of life on the wreck without finning too hard. It’s a brilliant dive for photographers looking for macro subjects, or anyone who enjoys seeing how quickly nature reclaims man-made structures.