Reefwander
A long, steep island with grassy slopes and reddish cliffs rising from dark choppy water under a hazy sky — Strathtay, Dublin Bay.

Dublin Bay · Ireland · Wreck

Strathtay

Two split rocks mark a nineteenth-century steamer off Lambay

Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada · CC BY 2.0

The wreck of the SS Strathtay, an iron-hulled steamer that struck the rocks of Lambay Island. It lies at the north-east end of the island, where two split rocks mark the site. Little is left beyond her boilers and other broken remains.

Also known as SS Strathtay.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Strathtay: typical dive to 20 m (to 66 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit20 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

53.5010° N, 6.0150° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The Strathtay lies in 20 metres at the north-east end of Lambay Island, and two split rocks mark the place to drop in. The wreck is pretty broken up, mostly boilers and other bits, with a large ring on the stern rail and another section of wreck about 100 yards to the east.

The wreck

Vessel
SS Strathtay
Type
Iron-hulled steamer
Length
42.67 m (140 ft)
Built
1883
Sunk
1885
Cause
Struck rocks off Lambay Island in thick fog
Lies
In 20 m at the north-east end of Lambay Island, marked by two split rocks

The Strathtay was built in 1883 by Scott & Co. of Bowling, and was under charter to Tedcastles to deliver coal from Glasgow to Dublin. In thick fog in 1885 she struck the rocks off Lambay, and her 15 crew escaped without injury.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Strathtay
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodFairFair

Season follows Dublin Bay: Club boats run from April to October; high summer brings the longest days and evening dives, while March has the coldest water.

Sources

  1. Dublin Bay dive guide — DUSAC (Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club)
  2. FAQs — Irish Scuba Academy
  3. OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap

Photo credits

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