ARLENE

Protected Area

Solway Firth

Why dive here

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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The ARLENE, off the Northumberland coast, is one of those wrecks that just grabs you. We love her because she’s a proper little time capsule, not just a pile of scrap. At 8.2m, she’s compact, an iron/steel vessel that went down in 1979. What you get here is a chance to really explore, not just drift by. Drop down and you're immediately struck by how intact she is for her size. The stern post stands proud and you can even fin into the small holds. We’ve had some cracking dives here, navigating through the skeletal ribs, spotting the resident wrasse that dart in and out of the plating. It's an intimate dive, you feel very much within the wreck rather than just above it. The light plays beautifully through the gaps on a sunny day, illuminating little pockets of life – nudibranchs clinging to rust, blennies peering from crevices. She's definitely one for the curious diver, someone who enjoys a proper rummage and appreciating how quickly a wreck becomes part of the seabed's ecosystem. Look out for the conger eels sometimes nestled deep within the more protected sections; they’re often bigger than you’d expect for such a small wreck.

Safety Notes

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

Today06:3517:2710h 52m daylightGolden hour 16:37

ARLENE Wreck History

Year Sunk

1979

Vessel Type

fishing vessel

Cause

grounding

The ARLENE is not a dive site in the traditional sense. With a listed depth of 0 meters, the remains of this small, 8-meter iron vessel lie in the intertidal zone of the rugged Northumberland coast. Wrecked in April 1979, it was likely driven ashore by a storm or navigational error, its fate sealed on the unforgiving coastline. Today, what is left of the ARLENE is a destination for coastal hikers and photographers rather than scuba divers. Its skeletal remains, exposed to the air at low tide, serve as a stark and picturesque reminder of the power of the North Sea and the perils faced by those who work upon it.