BENGOLLYUN - Northumberland & Northeast

The Bengollyun is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to, and it’s not just the depth that makes it interesting. This 1862 sailing vessel, lost in 1889, sits upright at 45m. Dropping down, you hit the bow first, often surrounded by a swirling cloud of coalfish. The ship’s lines are still surprisingly clear, especially the mast stumps reaching up from the deck, draped in dead man's fingers. We’ve found the best approach is to start at the bow and drift slowly towards the stern, letting the gentle current (if it's running) do some of the work. Look out for the capstan on the foredeck – it's usually teeming with crabs and juvenile wrasse. Around the midships, the holds are open, offering some penetration for experienced divers, though we tend to stick to the perimeter, admiring the sheer scale of the ship. The stern section, while more broken, often hosts larger ling and the occasional wolfish tucked away in a shadowed crevice. Visibility can be the usual North Sea roulette, but on a good day, when it stretches to 10 metres, the Bengollyun feels immense and truly transportive. It’s a proper deep dive, best for those comfortable with deco obligations and a decent bottom time.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.595720, -4.296150
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
45m

Wreck History - BENGOLLYUN

Year Sunk
1889
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
unknown

The Bengollyun was a vessel from the great age of sail, a sturdy ship built in West Hartlepool in 1862. By the time of her loss, she was a veteran of the seas, having spent decades carrying cargo under the ownership of McKinnon of Liverpool. She represented a fading era, as steam power was rapidly making sailing vessels like her obsolete.

Her final chapter began on March 20th, 1889, when she sailed from Liverpool, bound for an unknown destination. She was never seen again. With no witnesses or survivors, her fate remains a mystery, but it is highly probable she foundered in a powerful storm, overwhelmed by the very seas she had navigated for 27 years.

Resting at 45 meters, the Bengollyun is a deep dive for experienced technical or trimix divers. Descending into the dark, cool waters of the North Sea to find the remains of a 19th-century sailing ship is an incredible experience. While time and the sea will have taken their toll, divers can still find evidence of her past life-scattered timbers, rigging, and perhaps personal effects of the crew, offering a silent, haunting connection to a bygone maritime world.

Marine Protected Area: Llanbadrig - Dinas Gynfor

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to BENGOLLYUN

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