AUCHENARDEN

The SS Auchenarden was a classic steamship of her era, built in 1899 by Russel & Co in Port Glasgow. Powered by a triple-expansion steam engine and two large boilers, she was a workhorse of the Auchen Steam Shipping Co, plying the coastal routes of the United Kingdom at the turn of the 20th century. Like many ships of her kind, her life was one of routine cargo transport, facing the unpredictable and often harsh conditions of the North Sea.

Her final voyage came to an abrupt end in the winter of 1913. On January 17th, while on passage, she was lost to the sea off the coast of Northumberland. While the exact details are sparse, it's almost certain she fell victim to a severe storm, a common fate for vessels navigating these waters during the unforgiving winter months. She sank beneath the waves, coming to rest on the seabed where she has remained for over a century.

Today, the Auchenarden is a fantastic and highly accessible dive. Lying in just 12 metres of water, she is suitable for divers of all levels. Time and the sea have broken her apart, but her most substantial features, the two prominent boilers and the impressive engine block, still stand proud. The wreck is a playground for local marine life, with crabs and lobsters hiding in the wreckage and schools of fish patrolling the scattered plates of her hull. It serves as a perfect introduction to the rich maritime history resting just off the Northeast coast.