I managed a couple of dives yesterday with skipper Jason Coles of Wreckspeditions – Dunoon before storm Ciara arrives later today. Conditions were near perfect on the surface. The morning dive was on the wreck of the SS Kintyre …….aka ‘The Campbeltown Yacht’, as can be seen from the picture below.
Although we were boat diving, it is possible to dive the wreck from the shore and there are many good sources to tell you how to go about that. We were fortunate to have reasonable underwater visibility although dark, and diving around high water gave us a maximum depth of 46.7 metres at the collapsed stern section.
Here are a few pictures from the dive that show she is still reasonably intact as far aft as the stern winch and mast step, the starboard side aft was badly damage as a consequence of a collision with a large steamship, the SS Maori in 1907.
Kintyre dive slideshow
It is interesting to note (well I thought so), that there is a noticeable difference in the density of encrusting sealife between the shady north and sunny south side of the wreck. It clearly demonstrates that light does reach down to 35 metres and beyond, even when you think its pitch black during the dive.
You can read more about the SS Kintyre and how she came to be lying off the rocks at Wemyss Bay if you follow this link to our website Scottish Shipwrecks https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/kintyre/
Most impressed that you achieved that depth, Peter. Well done and interesting comment on the North/South growth rates.