The John Strachan was an iron built puffer with a length of 80 feet, she was built in 1885 and sank in December 1917. Apart from this information, not much else is known about her. The reason she sank is also unknown but like so many ships in the area it is likely that she struck some of the reefs in the area and sank. It is also possible that she was heading for the jetty to unload her supplies as the Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries are within a few miles of this jetty.
The wreck today :
The wreck can be found on a small reef a few hundred yards from the pier at Ardbeg. The reef is marked by two fire baskets and the John Strachan lies at the end of this reef. The wreck lies in 10 meters of water and is totally intact, the hold and the cabin areas are accessible with ease and the prop is still in position. This is a good shallow dive with little or no tidal problems.