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This is by far the most accessible, worthwhile wreck in the St. Abbs area and is often
diveable when conditions inshore are not suitable. Only a few minutes from the harbour
in approximately 30m of water, a lot of wreckage remains but ninety odd years is salt
water has taken its toll. Much of the Glanmire is now flattened although there are
some places where it rises about 5m from the bottom. The propeller (a steel one!)
stands upright as do the boilers. For those looking for trophies, bear in mind it has
been well picked over and little of note now remains.
This is not a dive for the inexperienced. Although not especially deep, it can be very
gloomy and also bitingly cold especially in the Spring. Temperatures of four or five
degrees centigrade can be expected at that time of the year so a drysuit is highly
recommended. It is also a slack water dive with perhaps only half an hour of slack
depending on "how neap the tide is". Staying on the wreck past the end of the slack
period can mean a difficult ascent up the shotline (assuming you can find it), or
being swept along and surfacing hundreds of metres from your boat with the possibility
you will not be spotted.
A lot of the wreckage is covered in white and orange soft corals and with many other
invertebrates established between them, the Glanmire resembles the colourful reefs for
which this stretch of coast is renowned. But one of the main attractions of this wreck
is the fish life. Some years the wreck seems to get adopted by huge shoals of coalfish
which hang just above it and make a superb sight if you happen to be there when the
visibility is good. Usually, there are plenty of big Pollack here and wary cod and ling
hang about under the wreckage. This is also an excellent place for finding big, mature
Wolf-fish and the occasional conger. There are not many places around St. Abbs where
you are likely to see bib (pouting to southern divers) but this is one and they
congregate in small groups in the shelter of the wreckage. Take a good lamp - they will
help you spot the fish hiding in all the nooks and crannies.
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