ACTION - Northumberland & Northeast

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.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
54.171830, -3.234678
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - ACTION

Year Sunk
1973
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The motor vessel Action met a dramatic end in October 1973. Her final journey was a chaotic struggle against the elements off the UK's northeast coast, where the vessel first drifted ashore on Haverigg Sands. After breaking free on a high tide, her ordeal continued as she grounded again, this time at Roan Head.

A final rescue attempt was made to tow the vessel to safety, but the tow line broke, sealing the Action's fate. She was left aground off the sand, where she remains today. Lying at a depth of 0 meters, her remains are not a traditional dive site but a coastal feature, constantly battered by the tides and surf. The wreckage serves as a stark, visible reminder of the sea's unforgiving power.

Marine Protected Area: Duddon Estuary

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to ACTION

Marine Life in Northumberland & Northeast

Home to 132 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 15 whales & dolphins, 11 sharks & rays, 10 other, 10 seagrass & algae, 9 crabs & lobsters.

Notable Species