CATHERINE - Northumberland & Northeast

The *Catherine* isn't a grand, intact wreck, so manage your expectations. What you get here, though, is a genuinely fascinating jumble of history spread out across a shallow, current-swept seabed, and we love it for its character. You're looking at the remnants of a 22.9m sailing vessel, sunk after a collision back in 1882. It's now largely dispersed, but that means a wide area of debris to poke around in, at a very manageable 13m depth. What we experience here is a treasure hunt. You'll fin over twisted metal, timbers, and broken pottery, imagining the ship's final moments. This broken-up nature means plenty of nooks and crannies for resident marine life. We've seen some cracking lobsters tucked into the crevices, and the dense covering of plumose anemones always adds a splash of colour, even on a grey day. The visibility can be hit-or-miss, as is standard for the North Sea, but when it clears, the detail on the wreck pieces is surprising. It's a fantastic spot for a relaxed second dive, or for newer wreck divers to practice navigation and observation without the pressure of a deep, dark penetration. Always keep an eye out for the odd crab scuttling between the wreckage.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

53.386930, -2.996071

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

13m

Marine Protected Area: New Ferry