Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom

SS Rondo

The SS Rondo is a remarkable wreck in the Sound of Mull, lying with its bow vertical against the cliff face of Dearg Sgeir at about 9 metres and the stern descending almost vertically to 50 metres. The 73-metre Norwegian-built steamer ran aground on 25 January 1935 after dragging her anchors in a storm, slid down the underwater cliff and now hangs in this almost vertical orientation, making it one of the most unusual wreck dives in Britain. Divers can swim along the hull at any chosen depth between the rudder near the surface and the bow at 50 metres, exploring the propeller, deck winches, holds and engine room. The wreck is densely covered in plumose anemones, dead man's fingers, sponges, hydroids and feather stars. Visibility in the Sound is reliably 8 to 15 metres in summer, with water temperatures between 8 and 14 degrees Celsius. Resident species include wolffish, conger eels, pollack, ling, ballan wrasse and lobsters. Currents are weak against the cliff. Dives run from Oban, Tobermory and Lochaline charter boats.