AZALEA - Northumberland & Northeast

We love the *Azalea* for its sheer accessibility and surprising character, a proper little time capsule just a short dip down. This isn't a deep, dramatic wreck, but for 7m, she really delivers. You’ll find her broken up a bit, spread across the seabed, but the boiler stands proud, a real focal point. It’s always buzzing with life, especially those cheeky wrasse darting between the plates, and we often spot butterfish tucked into the nooks. Exploring here feels like poking around a submerged scrapheap, but in the best possible way. The iron plates are thick with anemones and hydroids, a shaggy carpet of life. Our favourite time to dive the *Azalea* is on a calm, sunny day when the light really penetrates, making the metal glow a dull bronze. Visibility can vary, but even on an average day, it’s a lovely, gentle potter. It's an ideal spot for newer divers getting comfortable with wrecks, or for photographers who want to spend some quality time framing shots of those intricate iron structures and the resident critters. Just be mindful of the currents, which can pick up a bit around slack water, but nothing too taxing. For such a shallow site, it’s packed with details, and we’re always finding something new on repeated visits.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.506195, -3.092053
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
7m

Wreck History - AZALEA

Year Sunk
1903
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm

The SS Azalea was an iron-hulled steamship built in 1886 by the renowned Sunderland Shipbuilding Co. For seventeen years, she plied the coastal waters of the United Kingdom, a workhorse of the early 20th century maritime trade. Owned by A.H. Reid of Liverpool at the time of her loss, her career came to an abrupt and tragic end on Christmas Eve, 1903, when she foundered and sank during a fierce storm.

Resting at a very shallow depth of just 7 meters, the Azalea is an accessible dive, though her age and exposure to over a century of North Sea weather mean she is now thoroughly broken up. Divers can explore the scattered remains, identifying key features like her single boiler and the remnants of her compound expansion engine. The wreckage has become a thriving artificial reef, offering a home to a variety of local marine life, making it an interesting exploration for both novice divers and history enthusiasts.

Marine Protected Area: Ravenmeols Hills

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to AZALEA

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