SS Hispania

Type: Steamship

Picture:

Wreck Information: The Hispania a swedish merchant vessel (644 net tonnes) sank in 18 Dec 1954. The wreck remains fairly intact, and she is one of Scotland's favourate wreck dives. Although not particularly large, this wreck is effectively intact while the strong ambient currents support a dense covering of anemones, tunicates and hydroids.

The ship is of five-hold design with raised forecastle and poop. The superstructure (aft of no. 3 hold) has lost its funnel, but the engine room roof framing remains substantially intact, (see pictures below) as do the poop accommodation block. Other identifiable fittings include the propeller shaft, rudder and auxiliary steering gear (stern), a spare propeller (secured to the forward side of the poop accommodation block), and the starboard anchor. Its a slack water dive and slack water is xxx 

Cargo:   Her cargo of sheet metal, asbestos, rubber and fishing line was salvaged soon after the sinking.

Harbour / slip:  Loch Aline,   Tobermory  or   Oban

Travel & Parking directions:       Lochaline follow the A82 Glasgow to Fort William road as far as the turnoff marked 'Corran Ferry', 8 miles south west of Fort William. As you leave the ferry, turn left onto the A861 following the signs for Strontian. Turn left off the A861 just before Strontian for the A884, signposted to Lochaline   Carpark Lochaline pier Oban - end of pier or leaving oban heading north on the steep hill to the right is a free car park takes 10 min's to walk back to the pier.    

Distance from harbour:     The Hispania is 15.5 km and a 15 Min RIB ride from Loch Aline and is 41 km and a 40 Min RIB ride from the Kerrera sound and puffin divers      

Lat & Long:  056 43 920N / 005 59 130W  or  56.34.55 N, 5.59.13 W (degrees, minutes and seconds)

Chart:

Depth: The top o the Hispania is on 26m to 32m on the seabed and is near a drop of to 90m

Tides: Slack water is one hour before high or low water Oban, It is essential for diving the Hispania.        

Diveboat:       The silver swift      The Brendan     The Peregrine    Sound diver     Gannet

Diveshop:      Loch Aline dive centre     The puffin dive centre

Accommodation:    The best place to stay to do the Hispania is the Loch Aline dive centre half way up the sound of Mull. They have air, nitrox, trimix and accommodation      Self Catering 

Suggested experience:      Experienced sport diver          

Other comments:   The Hispania is listing to the starboard and more each year. (look at the U/W pictures)   

Pub:     Lochaline social club      The Mishnish

Created by:     John Nicolson         

Date:     30/4/07

Revision:  3                               

Thanks To:    u/w photographs by Keith Waugh and John Nicolson

Links:      LINK                 

Underwater photos:

Wreck diagram:   To Follow

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Dive Report: Gavindiver, April 07, HISPANIA very famous and rightly so. A good way up the Sound of Mull and 15 - 20 m to the decks. Usually good vis, but strong currents mean careful planning to dive at HW / LW Dover to see this excellent wreck at its best. She sits on rocks so you can see the whole of the keel shape. During salvage, the propeller disappeared down the slope and has to date not been recovered. She is listing to starboard a little more each season.

Dive Report: Budgy, Jan 07, I can remember the first time I dived that wreck the vegetation on the side of the wreck was a thousand shades of red. My sense of distance was way out and I kept reaching for things that were out of range. Maybe I had a touch of the pixie dust and was narked out of my skull that day. It was also one of my first big wrecks in strong currents and clear water. It's never looked as good since.

Dive Report:

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