ANGLIA - Northumberland & Northeast

The Anglia is an acquired taste, we’ll admit it. At a maximum depth of 1m, you’re essentially snorkelling, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s not worth your time. This isn’t about big fish or dramatic walls, it’s about history and the surprising tenacity of life in the shallows. What we love about the Anglia is how accessible a piece of wartime history becomes. The barge sank in 1942 after holing itself on another wreck, the Pegu, while loading scrap. Now, its remains lie scattered, broken but still recognisable, just below the surface. You’ll spend your time peering into crevices, watching the light play on the exposed plates, and seeing how the strong North Sea currents have sculpted the metal over the decades. It’s a fantastic site for photographers looking for interesting textures and light. You’ll see plenty of wrasse darting between the rusty plates, small crabs scuttling over the few encrusting anemones, and the occasional curious seal pup might even pop its head up. We’d suggest going at high slack water; the visibility improves dramatically then, and you’re not fighting the surge as much. It’s a genuinely unique experience, perfect for a surface interval or a relaxed dive when you just want to soak in the atmosphere.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.528297, -3.125227
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

Wreck History - ANGLIA

Year Sunk
1942
Vessel Type
barge
Cause
collision

The story of the barge Anglia is one of profound irony-a vessel lost while working to salvage another. This humble workboat was part of the massive wartime effort along the British coast to clear wrecks and recycle precious scrap metal for the war effort. Its fate is forever tied to that of the SS Pegu, a passenger liner that was bombed by German aircraft in 1939 and beached near the River Tyne.

On December 7, 1942, the Anglia was positioned alongside the decaying bow of the Pegu, being loaded with salvaged steel. In a disastrous turn of events, the barge shifted and was pierced by a submerged, jagged piece of the very wreck it was helping to dismantle. The damage was fatal, and the Anglia quickly flooded and sank, coming to rest on the seabed directly next to the Pegu.

Lying in just one meter of water, the Anglia is not a scuba diving site but an intertidal wreck, often visible at low tide. It is officially classified as a dangerous wreck, a potential hazard to navigation in the area. For maritime history enthusiasts, however, its remains tell a poignant story of the daily dangers faced during wartime salvage operations, a unique case of a wreck being created by another wreck.

Marine Protected Area: Ravenmeols Hills

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to ANGLIA

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