ALBANIAN - Northumberland & Northeast

The Albanian. Now this is a proper wreck dive, sitting just off the Northumberland coast. We’re talking about a 90-metre steamship, sunk way back in 1877. She’s a big girl, and when the visibility hits – which, let’s be honest, can be a bit of a lottery here – she really delivers. Descending onto her, you start to pick out the sheer scale. The hull plates are still largely intact, creating these long, dark corridors for curious divers. Our favourite part has to be the twin boilers, massive upright sentinels that are absolutely covered in plumose anemones, waving gently in the current. There’s a beautiful soft light that filters through the green water when the sun’s out, highlighting the golds and creams of the anemones. Keep an eye out for conger eels too; they love the dark recesses. We’ve spotted them peeking out from behind collapsed deck plating, thick as a diver's thigh. This is one for experienced wreck divers who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a surge. The Albanian might be old, but she still has plenty to show.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.482265, -3.896485
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
35m

Wreck History - ALBANIAN

Year Sunk
1877
Vessel Type
steamship
Cause
storm

The SS Albanian was a steamship built in 1870 by T. Royden & Sons in Liverpool for the renowned Bibby Line. A vessel of its time, it was powered by a 170 NHP compound inverted engine driving a single shaft, with two large boilers providing the steam. It served as part of a merchant fleet that connected Britain with the rest of the world during the peak of the Victorian era.

On November 18, 1877, while on passage from Liverpool, the Albanian encountered a severe storm and foundered off the coast of Northumberland. The ship was lost to the sea, becoming one of the many wrecks that line this historic and often treacherous stretch of the UK coastline.

Today, the wreck of the Albanian lies at a depth of 35 meters. This is a dive for experienced divers, offering a glimpse into 19th-century maritime engineering. While over 140 years on the seabed has left the vessel well broken, key features like its two prominent boilers are still easily identifiable. The structure has become a rich artificial reef, attracting a variety of marine life typical of the North Sea.

Marine Protected Area: Great Orme

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to ALBANIAN

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