ALASTOR

Protected Area

Strangford Lough Part 3

Why dive here

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

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 118+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 13m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

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.

Typical ALASTOR Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today06:4317:3610h 53m daylightGolden hour 16:48

ALASTOR Wreck History

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.