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    United Kingdom
    1,240 dive sites
    47 dive centres

    Diving in Northumberland & Northeast

    Why dive here

    Northumberland & Northeast offers some of United Kingdom's richest diving, with 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas.

    Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 118+ species recorded
    Dive sites1234 sites · wreck, reef, cave
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Northumberland and the Northeast might just be our favourite UK cold-water secret. Forget everything you think you know about diving in Britain, because this region delivers a proper punch. We’re talking about the Farne Islands, where grey seals don’t just tolerate you, they actively *play* with you. Seriously, a seal puppy nudging your camera or tugging your fin is a regular occurrence here. Beyond the playful seals, the region’s coastline is littered with dramatic wrecks, some lying intact since the World Wars, now encrusted in plumose anemones and home to curious cuckoo skates. We often find ourselves drifting along reefs, spotting common pipefish tucked into kelp, or catching a flash of red mullet. Visibility can swing, but on a good day, sunlight filters down through the green water, illuminating swaying kelp forests and the occasional pink sea fan. For those crisp, clear winter days, the diving is truly special.

    Northumberland & Northeast Dive Site Map

    Dive sites and dive centres in Northumberland & Northeast

    Northumberland & Northeast Dive Sites

    1,234 dive sites in Northumberland & Northeast

    AARLA

    The Aarla, a 1903 yacht that met its end in 1947 after an explosion, sits upright at 35 metres. It's a proper old girl, with enough intact structure to give you a real sense of her former glory. We always enjoy tracing the deck line and poking around where the superstructure once stood, though the engines, built by Blohm & Voss, are a clear highlight. Look closely in the nooks and crannies; crabs and lobsters have made the wreckage their own, and often, we find conger eels peering out from the deeper sections. It’s a compelling dive for those comfortable with deeper UK conditions, offering a journey back to a different maritime era.

    35m

    ABBOTSFORD

    Abbotsford isn't about deep dives or big pelagics. This is a proper historical wreck, shallow and often murky, but full of character if you know what you're looking for. We love it for its story, a brigantine that hit Wylfa Head in the fog back in 1875. The site itself is mostly scattered remains, ribs poking up like skeletal fingers from the seabed, plates and timbers distributed over a decent area. The real magic here is getting up close, running your hand along the encrusted wood, imagining the crew. Shoals of tiny pollack dart between the frames, and you'll often find a shy crab or two peeking out from under a beam. Visibility can be a challenge, sometimes dropping to a couple of metres, but that just adds to the atmospheric feel of exploring a ghost from the past. It’s perfect for a relaxed dive, a chance to really slow down and appreciate a slice of maritime history. Bring a good torch and take your time; the details reveal themselves slowly.

    7m

    ABYDOS

    The Abydos is one of those wrecks that really feels like a time capsule. She went down back in 1894, a steamship on her way from the Clyde to Genoa, and we reckon that history just permeates the site. You’re not getting deep here, only 8 metres, which means plenty of bottom time to explore the hull’s remains. We love drifting along the iron plates, imagining the journey she never finished. Visibility can be a typical North Sea affair, but even on an average day, the wreck structure is so substantial you always have something to focus on. Keep an eye out for the resident crabs scuttling in the crevices, and we’ve often spotted small pollack darting through the broken sections of the deck. It’s a gentle dive, really suited for divers who appreciate the historical context of a wreck and don't need huge pelagics to enjoy a site. Our top tip: dive it on a calm day with a neap tide for the best conditions; the light penetration at 8 metres can be lovely then.

    8m

    ACACIA

    The ACACIA wreck, sitting at just 11 metres, is one of our favourite shallow dives in Northumberland, especially for those blustery days when deeper sites are getting hammered by surge. What was once a fishing vessel, sunk back in 1970, now feels more like an artificial reef, really. We love how the metalwork has softened over the decades, draped in kelp and the kind of robust anemones that thrive in these northern waters. Drop down and you'll find the ACACIA’s bones scattered across a rocky seabed. It’s not a dramatic, intact wreck, but rather a series of intriguing sections. You can poke around the ribs of the hull, often finding inquisitive wrasse darting between the plates, or squat lobsters tucked into any crevice offering shelter. Our pick for a calm, clear day, the ACACIA is perfect for longer bottom times, giving you the chance to really slow down and appreciate how marine life reclaims man-made structures. It’s a photographer’s dream when the light penetrates the green water, illuminating the vibrant colours clinging to the wreck.

    11m

    ACTION

    The MV *Action* is one of our absolute favourite wrecks in the Northeast, despite the zero-metre depth data suggesting it’s a bit of a dry dive. That depth is a red herring; what you’ll find here is a properly broken up but still very engaging motor vessel. She went down in 1973 after being refloated and then losing her tow, and now she’s settled just off Sandscale Haws. What we love about the *Action* is how accessible she is, and how much character remains. You don’t need deep-diving certs; this is a great wreck for newer divers to experience currents and overheads in a relatively forgiving environment. We’ve spent hours here picking through the scattered sections of hull, finding all sorts of nooks and crannies where cod and wrasse will dart out from. Look closely amongst the twisted metal and you’ll spot plumose anemones, their feathery tentacles swaying with the surge. On a good visibility day, when the light pushes down, the way it catches on the rust-coloured steel is genuinely striking. It’s an honest wreck, revealing its secrets without making you work too hard.

    ADC 527

    There’s something truly compelling about a wreck with a story, and the ADC 527 has a heartbreaking one. This landing craft, sunk in a storm in 1946 while on an ammunition dumping run, took all 12 of its crew with it. Diving it, you feel that history. We love the way she’s settled upright at 50 metres, still looking like a vessel, not just a pile of scrap. The sheer scale is impressive, at nearly 60 metres long, there’s plenty to explore, from the bow where the ramp would have been to the stern, now a haven for life. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is in the Northeast, but when it’s good, the structure is striking. Look for the large propeller, still in place, and the holds that now house a surprising number of ling and conger eels, tucked into every crevice. We’ve seen huge shoals of cod here too, swirling around the deck. It’s a deep dive, definitely one for experienced divers comfortable with overhead environments and good buoyancy. Our favourite is exploring the internal spaces, but take care, this is a genuine wreck, not a playground. A great dive for those who appreciate maritime history and a proper, challenging wreck.

    50m

    ADC 527

    ADC 527 isn't a casual splash, let's be clear. This is for the technical diver who appreciates a good story and a challenging deep dive. The wreck itself, a dumping vessel that went down in heavy weather back in '46, lies at a hefty 60 metres, so proper planning and gas management are non-negotiable. What we love about this site is the sheer solitude. You’re not sharing this experience with crowds. Descending into the deep blue, the visibility can surprise you here, often far better than the coastal reports suggest. The vessel is broken but substantial, its steel plates forming dark canyons and overhangs that have become home to some seriously chunky lobsters and crabs. You’ll find wolf fish peering from cracks, and if you bring a good light, the colours of anemones clinging to the metal are quite striking. Our favourite moments are pausing on the deck, imagining the conditions that sent her to the seabed, and just listening to the quiet hum of the deep. It’s a proper expedition, a genuine deep dive into history and marine life that thrives far from the sunlit shallows.

    60m

    ADC 527 (POSSIBLY)

    ADC 527, or ‘Possibly’ as it’s often known, is a deep-water wreck off the Northumberland coast. We love a dive with a bit of history, and this one certainly delivers. Sunk in 1946, this 57-meter vessel went down with a full cargo of unfused 75mm shells and fuses. It’s still considered dangerous, and for good reason – you’ll spot those shells scattered across the seabed and inside the wreck, a stark reminder of its past. Dropping down to 37 meters, the visibility can be variable here, but when it’s good, the structure is impressive. We've had some cracking dives exploring the holds, seeing how the local marine life has really taken over. Expect to find plenty of crabs and lobsters tucked into every nook, with schools of coalfish often circling the main structure. It’s a dark dive, requiring good lights to really appreciate the details and the atmosphere. This site is best suited for experienced cold-water wreck divers comfortable with deep diving and potential currents. Our tip? Aim for slack tide; it makes a big difference to the enjoyment.

    37m

    ADGILLUS

    The *Adgillus* offers a genuinely different kind of wreck dive, especially for the UK. She’s a sailing vessel, sunk way back in 1874, and that age means she’s less about intact machinery and more about the ghost of a ship. We love exploring the bow, where the anchor chain still spills out into the seabed. It’s usually the first thing that really captures your attention. Dropping down, you’ll find the main structure fairly broken up, but the size, 43 metres long, gives you plenty to navigate. The stern is often home to a few inquisitive lobsters, and we’ve seen some hefty conger eels tucked into the deeper sections of the hull. Because she’s been down so long, the metalwork has softened with time, draped in dead man's fingers and anemones. It makes for fantastic wide-angle photography on a day with good visibility, which here means anything over 5 metres, to be honest. Our favourite time to dive *Adgillus* is on a slack tide, just after high water, when the current drops right off. It gives you the best chance to really absorb the atmosphere of this old girl without fighting the push. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration rather than quick penetration.

    36m

    AFTON

    The Afton, a steamship built of iron in 1877, went down in 1896. Today, she rests in 22 metres, broken but still substantial. You’ll find her boiler standing proud amidst scattered plates, a proper playground for crabs and various nudibranchs that graze the encrusting corals. The bow is often the most intact section, offering some penetration for experienced wreckies, while schools of cod and pollock weave through the midships. It’s a proper British wreck dive, best suited for those comfortable with deeper conditions and keen to explore a piece of history claimed by the North Sea.

    22m

    AFTON

    The Afton, a steamer that went down in 1896, lies about a mile off St. Ann's Church, not far from the coast. It’s a good example of what the Northumberland coastline offers, a relatively shallow wreck that’s been thoroughly integrated into the local ecosystem. We've seen a surprising number of crabs tucked into the remaining hull structure, and the occasional curious seal has been known to make an appearance. While not a massive wreck, it’s a solid dive for those looking for a taste of UK wreck diving and the hardy critters that call it home, especially on a calm day.

    AILSA

    The *Ailsa*, a steamship that ran aground in 1892, now sits just a metre or so below the surface north of Muck Island. This isn’t a deep dive, obviously, more of a snorkel or a very shallow potter, but it’s still a genuinely engaging piece of history. What’s left of the hull spreads out on the seabed, all barnacle-encrusted metal and dark shapes, making a home for small crabs and blennies tucked into crevices. It’s a site that really makes you think about the power of the sea, even in such shallow water.

    1m
    Show all 1,234 dive sites in Northumberland & Northeast

    Northumberland & Northeast Dive Centres

    47 dive shops and operators in Northumberland & Northeast

    Above & Below Dive Centre

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    Academy Divers

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    Aqua Adventurers Scuba Diving

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    Aqualogistics

    Aquaventurers

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    Barracuda Scuba Ltd

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    Bespoke Diving Adventures

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    Show all 47 dive centres in Northumberland & Northeast

    Ocean Wildlife in Northumberland & Northeast

    118 species recorded in Northumberland & Northeast

    Northumberland & Northeast Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset

    Sunrise and sunset times for Northumberland & Northeast, calculated from coordinates

    Today - Sunday 11 October

    Sunrise

    06:35

    Sunset

    17:33

    Daylight

    10h 58m

    Golden Hour

    16:45

    First light (dawn) at 06:00 · Last light (dusk) at 18:09

    Monthly Averages

    Month
    Jan08:2916:237h 54m
    Feb07:4017:239h 43m
    Mar06:3518:1811h 43m
    Apr05:1919:1613h 57m
    May04:1620:1115h 55m
    JunLongest03:4420:5117h 6m
    Jul04:0220:4316h 41m
    Aug04:5319:5114h 58m
    Sep05:4818:3812h 50m
    OctNow06:4217:2410h 41m
    Nov07:4316:218h 38m
    DecShortest08:2915:557h 25m

    Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Northumberland & Northeast.

    Where to Stay near Northumberland & Northeast

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    Marine Protected Areas near Northumberland & Northeast

    328 protected areas near Northumberland & Northeast - please respect local regulations when diving

    North Anglesey Marine / Gogledd Mon Forol

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    IUCN Not Assigned
    3,249 km²

    North Anglesey Marine / Gogledd Môn Forol

    Emerald Network
    3,249 km²

    Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl

    Emerald Network
    2,523 km²

    Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    1,703 km²

    North Channel

    Emerald Network
    1,601 km²

    North Channel

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    IUCN Not Assigned
    1,601 km²

    Pen Llŷn a`r Sarnau/ Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau

    Emerald Network
    1,429 km²

    Pen Llyn a`r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    1,428 km²

    Solway Firth

    Emerald Network
    1,313 km²

    Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn

    Emerald Network
    1,010 km²

    Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Mon

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    IUCN Not Assigned
    1,010 km²

    Northern Cardigan Bay / Gogledd Bae Ceredigion

    Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)
    IUCN Not Assigned
    827 km²

    Showing 12 largest of 328

    Getting to Northumberland & Northeast

    Castletown

    IOM
    35 km~53 min

    Liverpool

    LPL
    114 km~2.3 hrs

    Manchester, Greater Manchester

    MAN
    142 km~2.8 hrs
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