Wreck of Rotche

Protected Area

Aird Thuirinis - Port na Long

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 Rotche 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 · max 10-30m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Wreck of Rotche, off Scotland’s west coast, isn't some tropical reef, and that’s precisely why we love it. This isn't about blinding colours; it’s about atmosphere, history, and the sheer grit of diving in colder waters. The Rotche herself is a stern-first descent into a time capsule, a cargo ship sunk in 1916. You’ll feel the chill as you drop, but then the shape of her bow emerges from the green gloom, often draped in kelp. We've spent hours exploring her, noting the huge cargo holds now home to wolfish and conger eels that peer out from nooks. There’s a particular thrill in navigating the broken stern, seeing the propeller shaft, and imagining the final moments. The Rotche offers a proper wreck dive, best suited for those comfortable with deeper, colder water and who appreciate the stories ships tell. Our favourite time to dive her is on a calm day with a spring tide, giving you the clearest water and slackest currents to really explore the penetration points. It’s a rewarding dive for those who seek more than just pretty fish.