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Type: The port Napier was built by the Port Line in 1940. She was requisitioned by the then Ministry of War Transport in June 1940. Her gross weight is 9,600 tons and is153m in length with a beam of 21m. Loaded into her six holds were 550 sea mines and 6000 shells for her 10 anti-aircraft guns. She sank after and explosion after being cast adrift from alongside the pier at Kyle of Loch Alsh. After the explosion the ship sank lying on here starboard side where she remained with the port plating just visible at low tide. Fortunately nobody was killed. In 1944 the steel plating was salvaged.
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Wreck Information: The classic way of diving the wreck is to enter the water at the mast fin to the stern and enter the wreck through the stern opening where the mines used to be rolled of the stern along a rail track. The rails are still visible on the left as you fin into the wreck. Keep heading straight through the middle of the wreck and about midships there is a break in the hull on the right that lets you exit if you want. If you carry on past midships it gets tighter but dont worry if you look up there are plenty places to exit. The whole of the port side has been removed so you have green water above in most of the wreck. If you get to the bow and its low tide you will have to surface swim back 15m to exit the wreck or climb out.
Harbour / slip: RIBs can be launched from the nearby slip at Kyle of Loch Alsh. You can contact the Harbour Master at 01599 534167 Google or at Kyleakin pier Google
Parking directions: At both piers Google
Distance from Glasgow: 181 Miles 4 hrs 20 mins Google
Distance from harbour: Its a five minute 2.5 km RIB ride to the wreck from the slip at Kyle or Kyleakin on Skye where its also a five minute 2.5 km RIB ride to the wreck
Lat & Long: 57 15 59.0N / 05 41 12,0W or 57 15.95N 05 41.15W but you cant miss it as it sticks out the water
Depth: 22m
Tides: Tide tables
Dive Boat: Dive & sea the Hebrides MV Perfect day Neil Macrae, 01599 577230
Accommodation: Durnish holiday lodges Skye Cottages Dive & sea the Hebrides Plocton cottages
Chart: Admiralty Chart 2540, Loch Alsh and Approaches.
Suggested experience: Sport diver
Other comments: This is a great wreck that is safe for penetration as the top (port) side has been removed making exit from the wreck easy. Its an ideal first wreck dive as its safe, bright, and can be exited simply by ascending to the surface. The currents here are barely noticeable. visibility on the wreck is normally 10m+
Pub: Many in Kyle
Created by: John Nicolson
Date: 25/4/07
Air & Nitrox fills: Dive & sea the Hebrides 1.5 hours and 5Bells 40 mins from Kyle.
Revision: 4
Thanks To: Keith Waugh for the u/w photos
Links: Divernet Red duster
Underwater photos: By Keith Waugh
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Dive Report : Fran, Aug 07, Neil Macrae picked us up at Kyle pontoon at 11.00 to take us to the Port Napier wreck. We were all feeling tickety-boo, cause we all got a great nights sleep! I found this wreck awesome, I did this 3 years ago when I was training and it all went mamories up, so it was great to bag 2 dives on this amazing site, I was diving with Stewart who was shooting some video so I tried to stay well out of way, the vis was fabulous considering the amount of divers (12 of us) The wreck has lots of entry points to penetrate and exit easily, no current at all a very enjoyable easy dive 18m max for me.55 mins It was great to discuss the wreck with others and get their points and views We went back in at 13.00 for dive two, current had picked up a wee bit, tide had ebbed so a good bit of the wreck is visible from the surface, We all had a fantastic days diving.