Depth 18 - 40 mtrs
Sailing Time 70 Minutes
Wrecks
The Clyde provides sheltered sites to suit all diving preferences and abilities, from the novice diver, to mixed gas deep diving.
Listed below are some of the more popular wreck sites available but any request for a particular site can usually be accommodated.
In 1956 the 14yr old MV AKKA, with 33 crew was loaded with iron ore and heading for Glasgow. Passing the Gantock Rocks the rudder failed and she was extensively holed, sinking in 3 mins killing 3 crew, 3 more later died. An interesting wreck with abundant sealife and access to bridge, engine room, companionways and stairways.
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Depth 18 - 40 mtrsSailing Time 70 Minutes
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Launched in 1876 the dredger GREENOCK worked the Clyde estuary until 1902 when she was struck by the steamer Ape. 16 of the 17 crew were saved, the fatality being the engineers’ son whose body was never recovered. Lying in 22-30 mtrs, the hull remains almost intact except for the deck structure. The twin 99hp engines lie exposed as do anchors, hoses and lifting tackle.
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Depth 22 - 30 MtrsSailing Time 60min
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Crewed by 6 and launched in 1882, the iron paddle tug CHAMPION delivered papers and mail to villages in the Clyde estuary. In dense fog in Dec. 1896 the paddle steamer Caledonia ripped into her port side and penetrated her engine room sinking her in 5 mins. The stern section is intact and the impressive starboard paddle stands intact well above the deck height.
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Depth 34 - 38 mtrsSailing Time 55min |
A small graceful cargo steamship, launched in 1868, the KINTYRE collided with the steamer Maori and holed in the starboard side. All were saved except the engineer who was never found. Apart from the depth, 35-50 mtrs, there are no problems. The hull is substantially intact with easy access to accommodation, holds and engine room.
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Depth 35 - 50 mtrsSailing Time 50min
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The single screw steamer WALLACHIA was carrying spirits, glass, earthenware, footwear and building materials when hit by Norwegian steamer Flos in 1895 and sunk in 25 mins. Salvage divers removed her masts and she lay forgotten until 1977. She lies in 27-31 mtrs and is one of the most popular dives on the Clyde. Jars and glassware can frequently be recovered.
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Depth 27 - 31 mtrsSailing Time 42min
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The steamship OVINGTON left Glasgow with a crew of 12 in Dec 1889. Fog forced her to stop and she was instantly hit by the steamship Victoria with the loss of 5 crew. A huge explosion littered the sea with debris and she sank in 5 mins. She lies upright in 32-35 mtrs. Take care if descending below deck level. Access to bridge, engine room and galley.
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Depth 32 - 35 mtrsSailing Time 40min
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The cargo passenger steamer BEAGLE launched in 1864, collided with the steamer Napoli off the Gt Cumbrae in 1865 and sank in 9 mins. The hull is open and support beams have collapsed into the port side, the collision damage is clearly visible. The decking in the stern is intact with the rudder, propeller and stern covered in coral and anemones. The wreck lies in 30-32 mtrs on a flat seabed.
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Depth 30 - 32 mtrsSailing Time 23min
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The Consolidated PBX CATALINA Flying Boat lies in 20-25 mtrs and is the most dived wreck on the Clyde, providing an easy but interesting dive. Although the cabin and tailplane are missing the fuselage can be entered with care and lies on the sandy seabed leaning on its starboard wing, the port wing lies broken around the wreck.
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Depth 20 - 25 mtrsSailing Time 10min
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In an eventful voyage lasting 4 months, the LADY ISABELLA lost 100 tons of cargo and one crewmember and was eventually grounded on the west coast of Little Cumbrae in 1902. She quickly broke up but was partly salvaged over the next few years. The remainder lies in 5-15 mtrs with machinery, ropes and wood visible. Small artifacts can still be found.
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Depth 5 - 15 mtrsSailing Time 35min
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The Cuirassier, a small rear engined coastal steamer built 1860. On 15th July 1894 while outward bound from Glasgow she ran ashore near the Little Cumbrae Lighthouse. The seabed around this part slopes steeply and as the tide rose she slipped back and sank. The remains lie in 30-36mtrs on the steep slope and is well broken up with only the aft section from boiler to stern left.
| No Picture Available | Depth 30 - 36mtrsSailing Time 30min
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The Wrecks in Loch Striven lie at Brackley Point on the east side of the loch. These include a MTB, Minesweeper and Barge.
The MTB lies just north of the point in 38-44mtrs and was located in 2000. The wreck lies upright and is reasonably intact, with some "brass bits" still on it.
The Minesweeper and Barge lie close together on the south side of the point in 15-20mtrs and are dived regularly from the shore. These wrecks were sunk by live gunnery practice at the end of the war to dispose of them.
Sailing Time 80min.
Further Information on Clyde wrecks is available in the book Clyde Shipwrecks and the video The Silent Fleet, both are available from all good dive shops.
Reef sites are also available around the Little & Great Cumbrae Isles, with depths ranging from 5mtrs to 44mtrs
Air and Nitrox re - fills are available at the marina dive shop. The nearest manned re-compression chamber is only 10min away on Gt Cumbrae Island at the Marine Research Station.