Small iron coastal steamship · lost 1888 · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
JASPER
The loss of the Jasper had a significant impact due to the disappearance of her entire crew. This tragic event occurred after she ran aground near the Isle of Whithorn in thick fog, leading to her eventual sinking in Portyerrock Bay. The steamship, built by Thomas Seath and Co Ltd., was carrying a cargo of steel rails from Workington to Glasgow when she met her fate.
Despite her captain's familiarity with the route, the fog led to navigational errors, causing the ship to strike rocks and lose her rudder and propeller. Today, the wreck lies in the Solway Firth, with her shape still recognisable. Notable features such as her boilers and propeller remain visible, though strong tidal currents and silt present challenges to exploration.
Type
Small iron coastal steamship
Lost
1888
Tonnage
279 GRTsteam
Depth
16 mBeginner grade
Minimum cert.
Confirm with a local operator
Location
Dumfries and Galloway, United KingdomSolway Firth
5 of 6 facts above are cited in Sources below.
History and LossLost 1888 · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom.
Lost 1888.
Condition of the Wreck
Notable Features
Boilers
Cargo remains
Propeller
A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
Depth, Access and DifficultyGraded Beginner · Certification unverified.
Open water 33Advanced 34Deep 36Technical 25Trimix 15
18304060140
Seasonal Conditions
Seasonality for JASPER: water temperature, typical visibility, surface access and marine life, by month.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Water temp
7.9°
6.8°
6.8°
8.3°
10.7°
13.1°
15.1°
16.2°
15.6°
13.6°
11.5°
9.4°
Visibility
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Additional Details6 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
Builder
Thomas Seath and Co Ltd
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
1888
Latitude
54.7373° N
Longitude
4.3523° W
Water body
Solway Firth
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
JASPER is a small iron coastal steamship wreck located off Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom at a depth of 16 metres. The wreck is diveable.
How deep is the JASPER?
JASPER lies at approximately 16 metres depth, Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway.
What certification do you need to dive the JASPER?
As reported, diving the JASPER is rated beginner and is suitable for newly certified Open Water divers. Minimum certification: Confirm with a local operator. A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
16 m
16 m at the deepest — deeper than 26 of the 143 diveable wrecks in this database, past the open water threshold.