Site Name: Tapti - Coll & Tiree

The Tapti was a 4411nt steel motor vessel built by C Connell & Co., Glasgow, and launched in October 1945. On 17th January 1951, the Tapti was heading in ballast from the Mersey to the Tyne around Scotland when it was caught in a fierce gale with strong south west winds driving sheets of rain across her decks reducing visibility almost to nil. Many of the crew of 60 Indian and Chinese sailors sheltered inside while the officers of the watch stayed on the bridge to keep watch. Suddenly Tapti struck rocks on the east shore of Soa Island off the southern end of Coll. The impact of the ship was colossal, and though Captain Coney ordered “full astern”, Tapti would not come free.

She was driven further onto the rocks by the swell, resisting all of Captain Coney's attempts to free her. Finally the waves span her round, driving her stern higher on the rocks with a heavy list to starboard. Captain Coney admitted defeat, and sent Mayday calls to Malin Head radio station. The Tapti stayed on the rocks all night, her crew in constant wireless contact with Malin Head Radio. By dawn a fleet of rescue ships had arrived, including both Mallaig and Barra lifeboats, two frigates and two trawlers, but there was little that they could do as the Tapti settled deeper into the water. Soon the list had reached more than 60°, and her captain ordered his crew to abandon ship.

The crew was able to escape by scrambling down nets into the waiting lifeboats, which then took them to Tobermory. Tapti stayed on the rocks of Eilean Soa for four days before another severe southerly gale pounded her until she slipped off the rocks and sank in deeper water.  Salvage work soon began, and continued for several years whenever the weather allowed.

The Tapti is broken into four parts and she lies in depths between 9 metres and 25 metres immediately south of Soa Island, south of Coll. Her bow is the most impressive aspect of the wreck, lying on its port side, separated from the rest of the wreckage and rising nearly 15 metres towards the surface. Her stern lies nearest to the shore and is the shallowest part of the site.

The wreckage, which is strewn across a rocky, sandy seabed, is encrusted with colourful sealife including soft corals, devonshire cup corals and plumose anemones.  Fishes include ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse and pollack. Sea cucumbers and seven armed starfish are also a common sight on the wreck. A wide range of fixtures and fittings remain identifiable including the boiler, mast and winches although the propeller and some non-ferrous fittings have been removed in the salvage process. Grey seals play in the shallow water around the rocks and may join you for a swim and a play.

Visibility on this site is generally excellent making this a dive not to be missed.

It is preferable to dive the Tapti on the flood, although the wreck can be dived at any state of the tide. This site is exposed from the south and may be subject to heavy swell if the wind is from the south. Getting out to Coll depends very much on the weather on the day, as strong wind and heavy swell will make the trip impossible.