BARODA - Northumberland & Northeast

The Baroda is one of our favourite Northumberland wrecks, especially when the light’s good. She’s not deep, just 13 metres, which means decent bottom time and often some surprising ambient light filtering through. We love exploring the bow section, which is still quite intact, with the anchor chains draped across it like old jewellery. It’s got that classic wreck feel, the steel plates draped in dead man’s fingers, creating little ledges and overhangs for lobsters and crabs. Visibility can be a mixed bag, as it often is around here, but when it’s good, you can really appreciate the scale. You’ll find cod sheltering in the deeper recesses, and ling often lurk in the gloomier parts of the holds. We’ve even seen the odd wolf fish poking its grumpy face out from under a plate. Our tip? Try to time your dive for slack water on a neap tide. It makes a big difference to how much you can really take in. It’s a great site for newer wreck divers or photographers wanting to practice their wide-angle shots without battling depth.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.434420, -3.014959
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
13m

Wreck History - BARODA

Year Sunk
1887
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
collision

The Baroda was a 68-meter steamship from the Victorian era whose career was cut short by a sudden and catastrophic event. On a November night in 1887, while navigating the busy shipping lanes off the Northumberland coast, the Baroda was involved in a serious collision with another vessel. The impact was devastating, and the ship quickly foundered, sinking to its final resting place on the seabed.

Resting at a shallow depth of 13 meters, the Baroda is an easily accessible dive but one that requires caution. It is officially classified as a 'dangerous wreck,' which can indicate the presence of sharp, unstable metal, potential for entanglement in old nets, or its location in an area with strong currents or poor visibility. For the prepared diver, the wreck offers a fascinating exploration of a 19th-century steamer. The scattered remains provide a habitat for a wealth of marine life, turning a maritime tragedy into a thriving underwater ecosystem.

Marine Protected Area: Mersey Narrows

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to BARODA

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