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Shetland
Wrecks around lerwick
Queen Of Sweden: Drrottningen af Swierge Sank close to the point of the Knab, Lerwick in 1745: Extensive remains of this Dutch East Indiamen found by Jean Claude Joffre in 1979. Lots of finds at the time including ceramics, glass, pewterware, brass lamps etc. Lead ingots remain, canons and anchors. Flint was ballast (not native to Shetland) and large piles found about the site. Lots of broken glass and pottery: at least 15 iron cannon remain. Good dive no deeper than 17m. Please note that this is a protected wreck site. This 928 ton steamship foundered and sank following a collision with the SS Flora of Denmark in January 1918. She now lies on sandy seabed, sitting on an even keel with the stern at around 40m deep. She is reasonably intact, certainly all the main parts of the hull and engine room are recognisable, all in all a very pleasant dive. The 1263 ton steam ship Glen Isla foundered and sank following a collision with SS Glenelg. She now sits on an even keel in 45m of water in the main entrance to Lerwick harbour. Similar to the Gwladmena in both the way she lies and design, the Glen Isla is another good dive. The Lunokhods-1 was a Latvian registered Klondiker that dragged her anchors and was blown ashore in a severe storm on 9/11/93. She now lies in a geo (small gully in the rocks) at the base of Kirkabister Light, the distinctive lighthouse that marks the entrance to Lerwick Harbour. She was blown into the geo stem first so the stern now lies tightly wedged into the gully down to about 18m. The bow broke away and slid down the slope and now lies in just over 40m. Continuing the theme, the Pionersk was another Latvian registered Klondiker that managed to pull off the same trick. She too dragged here anchors in a severe southerly storm and was blown ashore at Gulberwick on 31 October 1994.  Pionersk The Pionersk was a large ship, at a length of 180m, and lies in a depth of 22m. She makes for an interesting dive though, due to her size, it is easy to get confused as to where you are: gold coloured tin lids litter the area making for a curious distraction. The Valkyrie was a Inverness registered fishing boat that struck the cliffs and sank in 49m of water just along from the Lunokhods. She now lies upright in a small gully with her nets and lift bags from a failed salvage attempt floating up from the stern. A picture of her was used on the Inspiration advert for a while. The Giants legs are a series of sea stacks in the making. It is possible to swim behind them through two gashes in the rock, making for an interesting mooch.  Leonatus The Leonatus was torpedoed by UC 40 whilst on route from Loch Ewe to Lerwick with a cargo of coal on 12/12/1917. She now lies in two halves in 60m of water (52m to the deck) with a considerable amount of wreck left to explore. The Park Mill was torpedoed by UC 40 on 10/10/1917 just as she was about to enter Bressey Sound carrying a cargo of coal. This Bavarian registered refrigerated cargo ship was blown ashore in a severe SE gale on 19/11/1997. An epic rescue attempt was carried out which, although managing to rescue the crew, resulted in the death of the rescue helicopter winchman. A small fishing boat that sank in 28m of water, now lying on her port side on a sandy seabed.  Diving the Fraoch Ban on a windy day. A small steam trawler the stuck a mine and sank on 12/10/1917.
Most, if not all of the photos on this page were taken by Ian Potten who can be found at www.ianpotten.btinternet.co.uk/. I would like to extend my thanks to him for their use and also reiterate that copyright remains with him so that any further reproduction would require his express permission.
Bob Anderson: bob@mvhalton.co.uk Tel:(01856) 851532
©Halton Charters
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