CARL AUGUST - Northumberland & Northeast

Okay, let's talk about the Carl August. We've spent a few hours on this one, and it’s a site that really comes alive when you hit it right. This isn’t a deep dive, barely tickling the surface at 10 metres, but don’t let that fool you. What we love about the Carl August is the sheer sense of history. She’s a wooden sailing vessel, built in 1874, that came to grief in 1891. You’re not just seeing a wreck; you’re seeing the skeleton of a ship that sailed the world. When the visibility plays ball, which is often surprisingly good here, you can trace her lines quite clearly. The wooden timbers are well broken now, but you can still make out sections of her hull, ribs, and deck structures. We’ve found some great penetration opportunities into the old cargo holds, if you’re appropriately trained and confident in overhead environments. Look for the way light filters through the gaps in the planking – it creates some really moody scenes. The wreck has become a home for a surprising amount of life: plenty of plump cod tucking themselves into the nooks, blennies darting between the timbers, and we’ve even seen the occasional inquisitive seal pop by. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration and an appreciation for maritime history.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
53.346657, -2.951631
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
1m

Wreck History - CARL AUGUST

Year Sunk
1891
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The Carl August tells a tale from the great age of sail. This wooden sailing vessel was built in 1874 in Stralsund, Germany, and spent nearly two decades plying the world's oceans. Her final voyage was an ambitious one, carrying cargo from Montevideo in South America all the way to Ellesmere Port in the United Kingdom. On December 21, 1891, after a long transatlantic crossing, her journey came to an abrupt end when she stranded and was lost on the coast of Northumberland.

Lying in just one meter of water, the wreck has been exposed to over a century of relentless coastal weather. As a wooden vessel, its hull structure has long since disintegrated. For divers and beachcombers, the site is an archaeological exploration rather than a wreck dive. The primary remains consist of scattered timbers, ballast stones that once kept the ship stable, and perhaps some corroded iron fittings. It's a dive into history, imagining the power of the storm that brought this sturdy vessel to its final resting place.

Marine Protected Area: New Ferry

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to CARL AUGUST

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