wreck

Log This Dive

CLAUDIA

We’ve spent a fair few days bobbing around the Northumberland coast, and when the conditions are right, Claudia is always a solid pick for a shallow wreck dive. She’s a wooden sailing vessel, went down in 1871, so you’re looking at a site where time and tide have done their work, leaving behind a wonderfully scattered debris field rather than an intact hull. What makes Claudia special, for us, is that scatter. You’ll find ribs poking up from the seabed, planks half-buried in the sand, and great chunks of timber draped in kelp. It’s not a deep dive, sitting at around 9 metres, which gives you plenty of bottom time to really snoop around. We’ve found some surprisingly robust crab populations here, big edible crabs tucked under the timbers, and plenty of blennies darting between the cracks. The visibility can be hit or miss, typical for the North Sea, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the kelp. It’s a site that rewards patience and a keen eye, perfect for a relaxed explore, especially if you’re into the historical angle of a wreck rather than just penetration. Our favourite time to dive Claudia is on a calm, sunny day, just after a period of settled weather. That’s when the water clears up best, letting you appreciate the delicate ecosystem that’s made a home on this old girl.