On the day the Girvan was wrecked the weather was calm and clear and ironically this was part of the reason she was wrecked as there was no wind to sail her clear of the reef upon which she had run aground.  The Girvan remained stuck fast for almost a week before she slipped off the reef and disappeared despite desperate attempts to tow her off the tugs, Eagle and Lord Elgin.

The Girvan was on passage from Glasgow to Melbourne with general cargo, including 500 cases of Scotch and Irish whiskey.  Despite a watch being put on the wreck by Coastguards and the landlord of the island, Mr Gage, much of the cargo (including some of the whiskey) was liberated by the islanders.  It should be added that most of this activity took place at night.  The Girvan was built by the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding Co. Glasgow, in 1869.

Diving information – The Girvan was wrecked on the Clochan Bo just north of the Bull Rock. At the time of her loss she was carrying a general cargo which included whiskey, pig iron, briks, tiles and other items too numerous to mention. It would seem that the Girvan hit the reef where she lost some of her cargo; then got carried off and sank slightly to the north where the main part of the cargo is lying. Although the wreck is badly broken up there are a number of wrecks in this particular spot and recent evidence would seem to substantiate this as brass rudder fittings and copper fastenings have been recovered. It should be added that the Girvan was built of iron. When looking for bottles and other small artifacts, it is best to search under the large boulders which cover the site. Some of the wooden packing cases can still be found, broken bottles litter the site.

The best time to dive the wreck is when the ebb tide slacks, as the wreck lies on a very exposed part of the coast. It is best to have very good boat cover and it is always best to check with the locals on tidal conditions before diving this particular wreck. The depth goes from about 2 metres on top of the reef to about 20 metres at the back of the reef. The seabed is strewn with large boulders covered sparsely with kelp. The bottom shelves away rapidly as you move offshore.