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Dive Sites Wrecks in the Douglas Area Albatross Depth  26m Distance 13 miles from Douglas Description Steam trawler, sank 1894 following collision. 84 tons, 101 x 19. Quickly sinking into the sandy seabed, but makes a good novice dive  and usually has reasonable viz. Ballina Depth 33m Distance 7 miles from Douglas Description Steamship, sank 1882 after being swamped. 341 tones, 170 x 23 Stern stands proud along with a boiler and large iron prop. Still turns  up a few artefacts. Care needed with suspended small net around the  stern. Paddle Wheel Depth  33m Distance 4 miles from Douglas Description A large wheel from an unknown paddle steamer. Dimensions are about 3m by 10m. A small site, but always teaming with  fish and the wheel itself is covered in Plumrose anemones. Ideal first  30m dive for trainees or a second dive. Can only be dived at slack. Octavia Depth 24m Distance 16 miles from Douglas Description Steam trawler, sank 1937 following collision. 173 tons,  108 x 21 The Octavia lays upright and is largely intact although the wheelhouse is starting to collapse. Good period of slack on neap tides. Afton Depth 24m Distance 5 miles from Douglas Description Steamship, sank 1896 following severe gale. 287 tons, 140  x 23 The Afton has been heavily salvaged but the remains (boiler, plates etc) are very scenic due to its location on a tidal plateau. Slack water  is short in duration. SS Liverpool Depth 40m Distance 9 miles from Douglas Description Steamship, struck a mine and sank 1916. 686 tons, 206 x  29 One of our favourite wrecks. The Stern is largely intact although the  site is generally collapsing. Usually excellent viz (15-20m). The wreck  has a good covering of life and attracts large fish such as Ling. Bell recovered by Castaway in 1997. SS Liverpool Depth 40m Distance 9 miles from Douglas Description Steamship, struck a mine and sank 1916. 686 tons, 206 x  29 One of our favourite wrecks. The Stern is largely intact although the  site is generally collapsing. Usually excellent viz (15-20m). The wreck  has a good covering of life and attracts large fish such as Ling. Bell recovered by Castaway in 1997. Wrecks in The Port Erin and Port St Mary Areas SS Florence Depth  50m+ Distance 8 miles from Port St. Mary Description Steamship, sank 1889 after being swamped. 268 tons, 149  x 22 Rarely dived, but bell recovered in 1996. Hull intact and full of coal.  Remains of wheelhouse lay to one side. Seabed is 53m on springs. MV Tuskar Depth 50m+ Distance 10 miles from Port St. Mary Description Motor Vessel, sank 1961 after collision with Chicken Rock. 114 tons Upright and intact with list to starboard. Stern is covered in Plumrose  anemones. Excellent viz due to location. Clan MacMaster Depth 15 – 25m Distance 5 miles Port St. Mary Description Steamship, ran aground 1923. 6563 tons, 420 x 54 Technically the largest wreck off the Island, but heavily salvaged after running aground. Impressive remains of engine and prop shaft. Being at the entrance to the Calf Sound, makes it ideal to combine with a drift dive. Ringwall (ex Mary Summerfield) Depth 40m Distance 4 miles from Port Erin Description Steamship, struck a mine and sank 1941. 407 tons, 143 x  25 Upright with list to starboard. Midships collapsed due to repeated hits with scallop dredgers. Generally good viz. Although tidal, it does  not have a lot of life. Still 2 or 3 portholes underneath the long-gone wooden bridge. Don Bosco Depth 33m Distance 2 miles from Port Erin Description Small steel fishing boat, sank following collision in 1990 Sits upright and attracts large shoals of Bib. Small size suits it to a second dive Thracian Depth 33m Distance 2 miles from Port Erin Description Steel Barque, sank 1892 whilst under tow for fitting out Wrecks lays upside down with huge steel masts stretched out on the seabed. Can suffer from really bad viz, but is rewarding when conditions  are good. Large numbers of scallops around the wreck. Wrecks in the Ramsey Area Fire King Depth  30m Distance 7 miles from Ramsey Description Steamship, sank 1939 following collision. 758 tons, 190  x 32. Wreck was blown to remove hazard to shipping. Stern still largely intact with boilers and wreckage strewn around. Due to location in middle of two fierce tidal streams, it is probably the most colourful wreck around  the Island. Very small tidal window, dive on neaps only. Polar Light Depth  30m Distance 9 miles from Ramsey Description Coaster sank in heavy seas 1989, 137ft, 199 tons. Wreck is intact and lays on her starboard side with cargo of cement  bags strewn around the seabed. Starting to become colonised with anemones. Scenic Dives in the Douglas area Bottle Run Depth  30 – 35m Distance 1 mile from Douglas Description A trail of Victorian debris that stretches down the coast. Mostly bottles and pottery which were thrown overboard rather than be washed or binned! Best done as a drift, nice pieces are always turning  up. There are generally loads of scallops if you prefer to recover edible  items Little Ness Depth  20 – 25m Distance 2 miles from Douglas Description A small tidal reef covered in sponges and deadmens fingers.  Some wreckage from the Democrat, but not enough to call a wreck site.  Surrounding seabed is carpeted with Brittlestars. Santon Head Depth 20 – 25m Distance 4 miles from Douglas Description Large reef extending out to sea. Best dived at slack as  surrounding seabed resembles the Sahara desert. Langness Depth 20 – 30m Distance 7 miles from Douglas Description A large area of angular rocky seabed, swept by currents  of up to 5 knots on springs. The whole area is densely covered with  sponges and anemones. The Langness peninsular has seen hundreds of wrecks over the centuries and every dive turns up something new. Scenic Dives in the Port Erin  and Port St Mary Areas Kallow Point Depth 20 – 30m Distance 1 mile from Port St. Mary Description A continuation of the seabed from Langness but not subject to the same fierce tides. Still a good 2-3 knot drift on springs though, with rocky ledges crammed with life. Sugarloaf Caves Depth 10 – 15m Distance 2 miles from Port St. Mary Description Not true caves as the tops are open to the air. The walls  are carpeted in jewel anemones. Ideal second dive and certainly unique. Calf Sound Depth 20 – 30m Distance 4 miles from Port St. Mary Description A narrow tidal channel between the mainland and the Calf of Man. A full-on drift, but you have to work hard to hug the coastline  and stay with the scenic stuff. Burroo Depth 20 – 50m Distance 4 miles from Port St. Mary Description A large rock marking the southern most point of the Calf.  Vertical down to 20m then steps down to 40m-50m. Strong tides ensure  that every rock is covered with sponges and anemones. If timed right,  can form the start of a superb deep drift toward the Chicken Rock. Chicken Rock Depth 20 – 45m Distance 5 miles from Port St. Mary Description An isolated pinnacle marked by an impressive lighthouse. Strong currents and over-falls make conditions interesting if timed  wrong. Similar to Burroo, this site is only for experienced divers. The Stack Depth 20 – 30m Distance 4 miles from Port St. Mary Description Another large vertical rock face marking the west most point of the Calf. Wall face is sheer to 20m then slopes away to the seabed in 30m. Strong tides only allow this to be dived at high water slack. Back to Top

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