The waters around the Isle of Mull and surrounding Hebridean islands are rich with maritime history. From Spanish Armada galleons to 20th-century cargo vessels, these wrecks tell stories of trade, war, and disaster. Below are some of the most significant wrecks around Mull, listed in chronological order.
Tobermory Galleon (1588)
The Tobermory Galleon was believed to be a Spanish Armada ship, likely an armed merchantman, that sought refuge in Tobermory Bay in 1588. Allegedly carrying treasure, it exploded and sank during a standoff, making it one of Mull’s most famous legendary wrecks.
While divers occasionally find cannon fragments and other debris, no treasure has been recovered. The wreck is scattered across the bay, providing a historic dive site and a link to 16th-century naval warfare.
Location: Tobermory Bay, Isle of Mull (approx. 56.62047 N, –6.06052 W)
HMS Dartmouth (1690)
HMS Dartmouth was a Royal Navy fifth-rate frigate that sank during a storm in 1690 while operating against the Jacobites. She went down off Eilean Rubha an Ridire, with most of her crew lost.
Her remains include structural timbers and ballast stones, making her one of the oldest Royal Navy wrecks in Scottish waters. The site is protected and offers insight into 17th-century naval shipbuilding.
Location: Eilean Rubha an Ridire, Isle of Mull (approx. 56.50300 N, –5.70024 W)
Guy Mannering (1865)
The Guy Mannering was a 19th-century merchant clipper ship that ran aground on Brown’s Rock near Iona during a storm in 1865. She carried general cargo and exemplified fast trading vessels of her era.
Fragments of her hull and iron fittings remain on the seabed, providing a dramatic dive and a glimpse of mid-19th-century maritime commerce.
Location: Brown’s Rock near Iona (approx. 56.32546 N, –6.42891 W)
Graf Von Schliefen (1868)
The Graf Von Schliefen was a German barque that struck Sgeir Ruadh in the Sound of Iona in 1868. This large, three-masted sailing vessel carried bulk cargoes and was lost during treacherous weather.
Divers can find scattered ironwork and remnants of her fittings among the reefs, offering a historic dive into 19th-century merchant shipping.
Location: Sound of Iona (approx. 56.31366 N, –6.40650 W)
Minnie Knapp (1881)
The Minnie Knapp was a small coastal steamship lost near Mull in 1881. She carried general cargo when a storm overwhelmed her, causing her to founder.
Although the exact site is unconfirmed, she remains part of Mull’s record of steamship losses and illustrates the hazards of early steam navigation.
Location: Iona, Inner Hebrides (approx. 56.3229° N, –6.4265° W)
John Preston (1882)
John Preston was a cargo steamer that sank near Rubha Dearg in 1882 after striking rocks. Most of her crew survived, but the ship was lost to the sea.
The wreck lies in shallow water with visible hull plates and fittings. It demonstrates the dangers faced by early steam-powered cargo vessels navigating Hebridean waters.
Location: Rubha Dearg, Isle of Mull (approx. 56.53305 N, –5.80362 W)
Thesis (1889)
The Thesis was a small cargo steamer carrying pig iron when she struck rocks near Rubha an Ridire in 1889. She sank quickly, though the crew escaped safely.
Divers can explore her remains in shallow water, where iron cargo, boilers, and structural components are still visible, offering insight into late-19th-century merchant steamers.
Location: Rubha an Ridire, Isle of Mull (approx. 56.50033 N, –5.69159 W)
Pelican (1895)
The Pelican was a small cargo steamer that went aground on Calve Island in Tobermory Bay in 1895. Some of her cargo and fittings were later salvaged.
Divers today can explore the scattered remains along the shoreline, making it a convenient wreck dive in Tobermory Bay.
Location: Calve Island, Tobermory Bay (approx. 56.61467 N, –6.04277 W)
Cathcartpark (1912)
The Cathcartpark was a cargo steamer lost near Soa Island in 1912 after striking rocks. She was transporting general cargo at the time of the accident.
Scattered hull remains and cargo provide insight into early 20th-century coastal trading vessels and make the site a dive interest.
Location: Passage of Tiree, near Soa Island (approx. 56.28590 N, –6.45343 W)
Shuna (1913)
The Shuna was a 1,000-ton cargo steamer that sank in the Sound of Mull in 1913 after a collision. She was carrying coal and other goods.
Her wreck lies upright and largely intact, offering one of the area’s more accessible dive sites, with abundant marine life around the structure.
Location: Sound of Mull, near Shuna Island (approx. 56.55648 N, –5.91440 W)
General Consul (1914)
The General Consul was a merchant steamer lost near Mull in 1914. Details of her sinking are limited, though she was recorded among early 20th-century shipping losses in the area.
The wreck site is not fully surveyed, leaving it as one of Mull’s lesser-known maritime mysteries.
Location: Exact coordinates unknown
Aurania (1916)
The RMS Aurania was a Cunard Line troopship during World War I. In 1918, she was torpedoed by a German submarine off the northwest coast of Ireland. Damaged and unable to continue her voyage, she was eventually towed and grounded near Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, where she broke apart and was declared a total loss.
Today, the wreck lies submerged off the coast of Mull, making it one of the area’s notable wartime shipwrecks. Though her remains are difficult to explore, the Aurania is remembered as a dramatic example of the maritime hazards faced during the First World War.
Location: Near Tobermory, Isle of Mull (approx. 56.60237 N, –6.32508 W)
Arnold (1925)
The Arnold was a small coastal cargo vessel that sank off Soa Island near Coll in 1925 after being driven onto rocks by rough seas. She carried general cargo at the time.
The wreckage is scattered and partially broken, illustrating the hazards of navigating the Hebrides’ rocky coastline during the early 20th century.
Location: Near Soa Island, Coll (approx. 56.56405 N, –6.65105 W)
Rondo (1935)
The Rondo was a cargo steamer that sank in 1935 after being caught in a severe storm. She ran aground on Dearg Sgeir off the coast of Mull, breaking up as her stern hit the rocks. Fortunately, the crew survived.
Parts of her hull remain on the rocks and underwater, making it a challenging dive site. Her wreck continues to attract divers exploring the hazards of 20th-century coastal shipping.
Location: Dearg Sgeir, near Mull (approx. 56.53843 N, –5.91248 W)
Buitenzorg (1941)
The Buitenzorg was a Dutch freighter lost in 1941 after grounding on reefs in the Sound of Mull while carrying general cargo. Her loss illustrates the dangers faced by merchant shipping during World War II.
Her scattered remains are of interest to divers and maritime historians studying wartime shipping losses in the Hebrides.
Location: Sound of Mull (approx. 56.50473 N, –5.74127 W)
Ostende (1943)
The Ostende was a Belgian cargo steamship (originally launched as the German ship Ehrenfels) pressed into Allied service during World War II. On 17 January 1943 an explosion in her bow while off the west coast of Mull forced the captain to beach her in Loch na Làthaich, near Bunessan, to prevent her sinking. She was carrying a large mixed wartime cargo that included munitions.
A subsequent fire and catastrophic explosions on 20 January destroyed much of the vessel; two seafarers lost their lives and nearby craft were damaged. The wreck was extensively salvaged after the war, but substantial remains still lie off the old Bendoran Boatyard. The shallowest wreckage sits around 5–6 metres and the site is popular for dives and training, however divers must exercise caution because shell casings and occasional unexploded ordnance have been reported.
Location: Loch na Làthaich, near Bunessan (approx. 56.32143 N, –6.26655 W)
Angela (1953)
The Angela was a small merchant vessel lost near Mull in 1953. Little is recorded about her final voyage, but she was one of several post-war wrecks in the area.
The wreck has not been fully identified and remains one of the more obscure shipwrecks around Mull.
Location: Exact coordinates unknown
Evelyn Rose (1954)
The Evelyn Rose was a small cargo ship lost off Ardtornish Point in 1954 after being driven onto rocks. She carried local coastal trade goods.
Her remains lie in shallow water, partially broken up, but still accessible to divers exploring Mull’s coastal wrecks.
Location: Ardtornish Point, Mull (approx. 56.5160 N, –5.7530 W)
Hispania (1954)
The Hispania was a Swedish cargo vessel that struck Sgeir Mor near Mull in 1954. She sank almost intact, preserving much of her hull and superstructure.
Today she lies upright underwater, heavily colonized by marine life, making her one of the most popular wreck dives in the area.
Location: Sgeir Mor, near Mull (approx. 56.58205 N, –5.98680 W)
Robert Limbrick (1957)
The Robert Limbrick was a trawler lost off Quinish Point in 1957. She struck rocks and sank while engaged in coastal fishing operations.
The wreck is scattered and partially broken, making it an accessible dive for experienced divers in shallow waters.
Location: Quinish Point, Mull (approx. 56.63369 N, –6.22602 W)
SSAFA (1961)
The SSAFA was a small coastal vessel lost in 1961. Details of her sinking are limited, but she is listed among 20th-century shipwrecks in the Mull area.
The wreck site has not been fully surveyed, leaving her as one of Mull’s lesser-known maritime mysteries.
Location: Exact coordinates unknown
Teunika (1969)
The Teunika was a small cargo vessel wrecked off Calaich Point near Mull in 1969. She struck rocks in poor weather while transporting local goods.
Remnants of her hull and fittings remain near the point, accessible to divers but largely scattered by the sea.
Location: Calaich Point, Mull (approx. 56.60353 N, –6.39418 W)
Ballista (1973)
The Ballista was a small vessel lost off Eilean Rubha an Ridire in the Sound of Mull in 1973. She struck rocks and sank while carrying cargo along the coast.
Her wreckage lies in shallow water, making it a suitable site for beginner divers and a reminder of the continuing hazards of coastal navigation in the Hebrides.
Location: Eilean Rubha an Ridire, Sound of Mull (approx. 56.50260 N, –5.70082 W)
Dive These Wrecks
If you’re a diver and want to explore the wrecks around Mull and Iona, here are some great resources to help plan your trips:
- Scuba Diving Around Mull – West Coast Tours
- The Sound of Mull from Lochaline – Scuba.to
- Puffin Diving Centre
