AUSPICIOUS
Protected Area
Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl
Why dive here
With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - AUSPICIOUS offers some of Northumberland & Northeast's richest wreck diving.
Auspicious is a small, broken wreck, and we love it precisely for that. Don’t come here expecting a grand ship to penetrate; this is an exercise in appreciating the history and the slow reclamation by the sea. Sunk back in 1895 after a run-in with the SS Dynamic, this pilot boat now lies spread across a sandy seabed at a consistent 10 metres. What you get here is a jumble of twisted metal, ribs, and plates, all softened by vibrant green algae and a surprising amount of invertebrate life. Look closely and you’ll find nudibranchs inching across the iron, small blennies darting into crevices, and sometimes, a shy crab peeking out from under a plate. It’s a site for the patient diver, for those who enjoy poking around, imagining the collision that brought her down, and observing how nature adapts. Our favourite approach is to take it slow, really scour the wreckage for the smaller stuff, and appreciate the quiet solitude of it. Vis can be variable, so pick a calm day with an incoming tide for the best chance of a clear view.
Typical AUSPICIOUS Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
AUSPICIOUS Wreck History
Year Sunk
1895
Vessel Type
pilot boat
Cause
collision
The Auspicious served as a pilot boat, a crucial vessel for guiding larger ships through the challenging coastal waters off Northumberland. Its career came to an abrupt end on March 17, 1895. While on duty, it collided with the much larger steamship SS 'Dynamic' about one mile northeast of the bar lightvessel. The smaller pilot boat stood little chance and quickly sank beneath the waves of the North Sea.
Lying at a shallow depth of 10 meters, the Auspicious is now an excellent wreck dive for novices and those interested in the region's maritime history. Its 'dangerous wreck' classification indicates that over a century of submersion has taken its toll, and the vessel is likely broken apart. Divers can explore the scattered remains, piecing together the story of this late Victorian-era service boat and observing how nature has transformed it into a thriving artificial reef.
Nearest Dive Centres to AUSPICIOUS
Dive shops near AUSPICIOUS
Aquaventurers
Delph Watersports Centre
Blackpool Area Diving Centre
Blue Planet Aquarium
Shipmates
Fins Scuba
Reviews for AUSPICIOUS
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AUSPICIOUS
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