ALASTOR - Northumberland & Northeast

The Alastor is a proper North Sea wreck, sitting upright and mostly intact on a flat seabed. We love it because it’s a manageable depth, always around 13 metres, which means plenty of bottom time to really explore. You’re descending onto the deck of a 43-metre yacht, built in 1927, and you can still see so much of her structure: the bow, the stern, even some of the deck fittings. There’s often a decent current here, so plan your dive around slack water if you want to poke around inside, which we’d highly recommend for experienced divers. Vis can be hit or miss, but on a good day, it’s a fantastic rummage. We’ve had dives where you can see the entire wreck from one end to the other, with schools of coalfish swirling above the mast. Conger eels are always a possibility, tucked away in the darker recesses, and the whole wreck is carpeted in anemones and dead man’s fingers. It’s a site that really makes you think about its history, a former HMS Alastor, now home to crabs and lobsters. Our favourite part is lingering over the stern, imagining her sailing days. This is a brilliant dive for those who appreciate maritime history and don’t mind a bit of chill.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
54.451550, -5.629433
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
13m

Wreck History - ALASTOR

Year Sunk
1946
Vessel Type
yacht
Cause
unknown

The wreck known as the Alastor has a truly remarkable pedigree. She began life as the luxurious motor yacht 'Vita', built in 1927 by the legendary shipyard Camper & Nicholson for one of Britain's most famous figures: Sir Thomas Sopwith, the aviation pioneer and America's Cup yachtsman. With the outbreak of World War II, this elegant vessel was requisitioned by the Admiralty, stripped of her finery, and pressed into naval service as HMS Alastor.

After surviving the war, her story took its final turn in March 1946 when she sank for reasons unknown off the Northumberland coast. Now resting in just 13 meters of water, the Alastor is a wonderfully accessible piece of history. Divers of all levels can explore the remains of a vessel that lived two lives-first as a symbol of pre-war glamour and then as a humble servant of the Royal Navy. The shallow depth allows for long, relaxed dives with plenty of natural light to explore her fascinating past.

Marine Protected Area: Strangford Lough Part 3

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to ALASTOR

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