BUSY BEE - Northumberland & Northeast

The Busy Bee, just off the Northumberland coast, is one of our absolute favourite wreck dives in the UK for a reason. This old sailing vessel, sunk after an encounter with the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board, sits upright and largely intact, providing a really tactile dive. We love descending onto her deck, the wooden planks often still visible beneath a fuzzy carpet of anemones and hydroids. You'll find crabs tucked into every nook and cranny, and if you bring a torch, the darker recesses of the hull reveal lobsters and even the occasional small conger eel. The masts are long gone, but the bow and stern offer some great swim-throughs, not too tight, perfect for getting a feel for the ship's original layout. We’ve had some cracking dives here, even when the vis isn't perfect, because the wreck itself is so interesting to explore. It’s a great pick for divers looking for a bit of history and plenty of invertebrate life.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.516910, -3.201328
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - BUSY BEE

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

The story of the Busy Bee is shrouded in mystery. All that is known for certain is that this sailing vessel sank off the rugged Northumberland coast in the northeast of the United Kingdom. With no recorded date or cause of sinking, the wreck leaves much to the imagination. Was it a historic vessel lost in a gale, or a modern yacht that met an unfortunate end? The answers remain with the wreck itself.

Lying at a depth of 0 meters, the remains of the Busy Bee are visible from the surface, making it an intriguing landmark for coastal explorers, kayakers, and snorkelers. For divers, it offers an easy and accessible shallow dive, a chance to play underwater archaeologist and piece together the clues of this anonymous vessel's final moments. It's a dive into the unknown, perfect for those who love the exploratory spirit of wreck diving.

Marine Protected Area: Ravenmeols Hills

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to BUSY BEE

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