COEUR DE LEON

Protected Area

St Bees Head

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - COEUR DE LEON offers some of Northumberland & Northeast's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 118+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 1m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Coeur de Leon isn't deep, not by any stretch. She's a fishing vessel, holed and abandoned in '93, now sitting in about a metre of water. And that’s exactly what makes her special. We love this site for what it represents: a proper wreck dive, accessible to almost anyone, where you can literally feel the history beneath your fingertips. You’re not going to need a torch here. Sunlight streams through the surface, illuminating every barnacle, every strand of kelp that’s taken root on her hull. It’s a riot of green and brown, with small crabs scuttling into crevices and blennies darting between the rusted plates. We've even spotted a curious seal pup or two here, weaving through the superstructure. Our favourite part? You can actually poke around the wheelhouse, seeing the gauges and controls still largely intact. It’s an intimate experience with a piece of the North Sea’s fishing heritage. Bring a camera, but leave the heavy gear at home; a shorty and mask are really all you need for this one. It's a fantastic spot for photographers or anyone wanting a relaxed, rewarding dive that feels more like an archaeological explore.