“We must plant the sea and herd its animals using the sea as farmers instead of hunters. That is what civilization is all about - farming replacing hunting.”
Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Hispania - Oban   


It always seemed a tradition that the Captain of the ship went down with her and in the case of the Hispania there was no exception.  Captain Ivan Dahn was last seen by the crew standing on the bridge.  He saluted and then the ship plunged to the bottom. 

This night was very dark and a storm was raging blinding the crew and at 9pm whilst bound for Tobermory the ship ran onto Sgeir Mor, a reef close to the Mull shore.  The first officer eased the ship off the rocks but she started taking on water quickly and it was evident that the ship was bound for the bottom.  The crew launched the ships boats but couldn't convice the captain to follow.

The cargo was salvaged in the 50s and in 1957 she was wire swept but otherwise shi is still intact and sits upright.  She sits in 30 meters of water and is a spectacular wreck with almost every square inch covered in marine life.  Due to the currents in the area she is reasonably silt free and visibility is usually good.

As you can see by the video the opportunities for penetration are fantastic.

 

     
Sonar pictures of the wreck as it is today.

        

        

        
Click on Thumbnail for larger view