Beneath the surface of oceans and coastal waters, sunken ships have evolved into ecosystems. What once served as vessels of trade, war or exploration now provides shelter and structure for marine life. These underwater wrecks are not just sites of historical interest – they are also biodiversity hotspots.
Here the experts from PADI explore some of the most marine-rich shipwrecks around the world, focusing on the creatures that now inhabit them and the ecological reasons why wrecks become homes for marine life.
- Best wildlife snorkelling and diving sites in the world
- Like to dive? Check out these extraordinarily beautiful underwater statues teeming with wildlife
Before you go exploring sunken shipwrecks, however, make sure you are competent and suitably qualified for the unique challenges and rewards that come with wreck diving. This includes being able to navigate wrecks safely, avoid potential hazards, and understand the historical and environmental significance of these underwater sites.
- 80 years ago, a cargo ship struck a mine and sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Then something staggering happened
- Famous UK shipwrecks: Discover dramatic stories of eight lost ships beneath our seas
Safety tip: Always make sure you are competent to dive your chosen wreck and conditions and remember when scuba diving at a new wreck consulting with local experts and participating in a guided adventure is important. Use PADI’s Dive Store Locator to find your local experts. Videos are for illustration only, not an endorsement for the company.
10 incredible shipwrecks teeming with marine life
Lady Luck – Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
Lady Luck was scuttled in 2016 and lies at around 30 metres. Its large, open structure and vertical surfaces provide multiple niches for marine species.
Goliath groupers, one of the largest bony fish in the Atlantic, are often found near the bow. Barracuda use the higher points of the wreck as vantage spots. Spadefish, which feed on plankton and jellyfish, are often seen in schools. Moray eels inhabit the shaded corners, while octopuses and crabs shelter in the hull. The presence of sculptures on the deck increases surface area for marine growth and adds complexity to the habitat.
Submarine M2 – Portland, England
The British submarine M2 sank off the Dorset coast in 1932 and now lies at approximately 31 metres on the seafloor. Initially designed with a hangar to launch a small seaplane, the vessel was experimental for its time.
Today, the structure acts as a stable base for marine colonisation. Its enclosed compartments, overhangs and flat deck areas provide shelter, feeding opportunities and protection from currents.
Marine life includes conger eels, which can grow over two metres and are nocturnal predators feeding on fish and crustaceans. Schools of pouting – a member of the cod family – move through the open water above the wreck, while wrasse feed on small invertebrates among the hull’s crevices. Crabs and lobsters occupy the wreck’s interior. Plumose anemones, with feathery feeding tentacles, cover exposed areas and use the current to capture plankton.
SS Count D’Aspremont – Ramsey Sound, Wales
This 452-ton steamship sank in 1903 and now lies on its side at 28 metres. It sits in Ramsey Sound, an area known for strong tidal currents. These currents increase nutrient availability, making the site attractive to filter feeders and fish.
The wreck supports dogfish (a small shark species also known as the lesser-spotted catshark), which are bottom dwellers feeding on crabs, worms and molluscs.
Cuckoo wrasse, recognised for their sexual dimorphism, feed on small crustaceans. Jewel anemones and sponges encrust the metalwork, taking advantage of the nutrient-rich waters. The wreck’s crevices provide refuge for blennies and gobies, small fish that stay close to cover to avoid predation. Hermit crabs and flatfish inhabit the surrounding seabed.
Gun Rocks Wreck – Farne Islands, Northumberland
Gun Rocks is believed to be the site of an 18th-century wreck marked by cannons scattered across the seabed. Over time, kelp forests and soft coral communities have formed around the wreckage. The hard surfaces allow sessile organisms like corals and bryozoans to anchor, while the kelp offers cover and food sources.
This habitat supports juvenile fish, including wrasse and pollock, which feed and take refuge among the kelp. Lobsters and edible crabs take shelter beneath the cannons. Soft corals provide feeding grounds for filter feeders.
Grey seals from the nearby Farne Islands are often seen here; the wreck offers them a place to forage and rest. Grey seals are among the UK’s largest native marine mammals and are curious around divers.
SS Breda – Argyll, Scotland
The SS Breda was a Dutch cargo ship that sank in 1940 during the Second World War. Resting in Ardmucknish Bay, the wreck is mostly intact and lies between 15 and 30 metres. The ship’s structure, including its open holds and vertical bulkheads, provides vertical and horizontal space for marine colonisation.
Conger eels use the enclosed engine rooms and small spaces as daytime refuges. Pollock and saithe form schools above the wreck, feeding on smaller fish and plankton.
Squat lobsters, which resemble crabs but with long claws, are commonly found hiding in recesses. Nudibranchs, soft-bodied molluscs known for their vivid colours, graze on hydroids and sponges that have attached to the metal. Feather stars and sea squirts are also found in abundance, using the wreck’s surfaces to anchor and feed.
Scapa Flow Wrecks – Orkney Islands, Scotland
Scapa Flow is the final resting place for several German warships scuttled in 1919. These massive steel ships, now submerged between 12 and 45 metres, have become large-scale artificial reefs. Their sheer size and complexity create a wide range of habitats: overhangs, vertical walls, and flat surfaces provide shelter and feeding grounds.
- History of Scapa Flow: what happened, why it was important and where to see the remains
- Quick guide to Orkney: best places to see the Northern lights, wildlife and heritage sites
Dead man's fingers (a type of soft coral) cover large portions of the wrecks, providing food and shelter for crustaceans like edible crabs and hermit crabs. Starfish and sea urchins graze on algae and detritus. Wrasse and pollock are commonly seen among the wrecks, and the cold, nutrient-rich water supports sponges and anemones. The ships' interiors, shielded from currents and predators, attract species that prefer low light and protection.
Million Hope – Red Sea, Egypt
The Million Hope sank in 1996 and lies near Sharm El Sheikh. At 174 metres long, it is one of the Red Sea’s largest wrecks. Coral growth across its flat surfaces creates habitat for reef fish, while the location offers protection from stronger currents.
Fusiliers and snapper are abundant, feeding on plankton in the water column. Parrotfish, which play a role in bioerosion by grazing on coral, are common. Barracuda and eagle rays are pelagic species that visit the site. Anthias and glassfish form large schools around the superstructure, taking advantage of the shelter and food brought in by currents.
Odyssey Wreck – Roatan, Honduras
The Odyssey is a 90-metre-long freighter sunk deliberately to serve as an artificial reef. It lies at around 33 metres and features open spaces and flat decks that have become settled with coral, sponges and algae.
Schoolmaster snapper and black groupers are found in the area, feeding on smaller fish. Creole wrasse swim in loose groups over the wreck. Green moray eels live in crevices within the structure, ambushing prey like fish and crustaceans. Spiny lobsters are also present and use the internal spaces for shelter. The wreck's location in a marine protected area helps preserve this biodiversity.
Hilma Hooker – Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
The Hilma Hooker sank in 1984 and lies between two reef systems. This location allows a mixing of species from reef and open sand environments.
Garden eels form colonies in the sand, rising from their burrows to catch plankton. Tarpon, a large silver fish, are often seen patrolling the wreck, especially at dusk.
Angelfish and trumpetfish are present in the reef area, feeding on small invertebrates. Sergeant majors, which guard their eggs aggressively, are common. Sponges and gorgonians colonise the wreck and attract grazing organisms.
USS Kittiwake – Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Sunk in 2011 to form an artificial reef, the USS Kittiwake lies at around 18 metres. Its upright orientation and clear structure make it accessible to divers and suitable for colonisation by marine species.
Sea turtles are often spotted grazing on algae around the wreck. Groupers and snappers move through the interior spaces, which offer cover from predators.
Rays occasionally pass by, feeding on molluscs in the sand. Sponges and early coral colonisers have begun to spread across the wreck. Algae growth supports herbivorous fish, forming the base of a new food chain.
Top image: Turtle gazes at its reflection under the USS Kittiwake. Getty
