ALBANIAN

Protected Area

Great Orme

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - ALBANIAN 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 35m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

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.

Typical ALBANIAN Dive Profile

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

Safety Notes

Deep dive (35m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.

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.

Today06:3517:3110h 55m daylightGolden hour 16:43

ALBANIAN Wreck History

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.