BANN PRINCE
Protected Area
Ravenmeols Hills
Why dive here
With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - BANN PRINCE offers some of Northumberland & Northeast's richest wreck diving.
The *Bann Prince* is one of those Northumberland wrecks we always make time for. It’s shallow, only ten metres, but that’s its charm. We love heading out on a calm day, slipping into the green North Sea, and dropping onto that familiar jumble of metal. You can still make out the bow and stern, but much of the steamship is broken up, creating this fantastic habitat for all sorts of local characters. We often find huge edible crabs tucked into the nooks, and lobsters wave their antennae from deeper crevices. The visibility can be hit or miss, but even on an average day, the ghostly outline of the wreck emerging from the gloom is pretty atmospheric. You’ll see schools of coalfish darting through the superstructure, and the occasional dogfish resting on the sand nearby. It’s an easy, relaxed dive, perfect for a second dip or if you’re just getting comfortable with wreck diving in temperate waters. Definitely pack a good torch; there are plenty of shadowy corners to peer into.
Typical BANN PRINCE 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.
BANN PRINCE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1955
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
collision
The final voyage of the steamship Bann Prince ended in disaster on a cold November night in 1955. While navigating the waters off the Northumberland coast, she was involved in a catastrophic collision with the tanker 'Juno'. The impact was severe, and the Bann Prince sank quickly, settling on the seabed in shallow water.
Lying at just 10 meters, the Bann Prince is a fantastic wreck for novice divers, photographers, and those looking for a long, relaxed dive. Its shallow depth means it's often subject to the full force of North Sea storms, and as a result, the wreck is heavily broken up and scattered. However, this creates a fascinating field of debris to explore, with plates, ribs, and machinery providing countless nooks and crannies for marine life. The site is designated as a 'Dangerous Wreck' on maritime charts, not because of the dive itself, but because its shallow position poses a hazard to modern navigation, a stark reminder of the incident that put her on the seafloor.
Nearest Dive Centres to BANN PRINCE
Dive shops near BANN PRINCE
Aquaventurers
Delph Watersports Centre
Blue Planet Aquarium
Shipmates
Blackpool Area Diving Centre
Fins Scuba
Reviews for BANN PRINCE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BANN PRINCE
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