DERBENT

Protected Area

Traeth Lligwy

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - DERBENT 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 39m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Derbent holds a special place in our hearts for Northeast wreck diving. She’s a big tanker, sunk by a mine in 1917, now lying at 39 metres. We love how intact she is for a wreck of her age; you can still clearly make out the stern, with her enormous triple-expansion engine still very much in place. Dropping onto the deck feels like entering a time capsule. Visibility can be hit or miss in these waters, but on a good day, the sheer scale of her is impressive. We’ve had dives where the bow felt like it disappeared into the gloom, only to emerge from the murk as we swam closer. Keep an eye out for ling lurking in the shadows of the engine room and plump wrasse picking at the growth on the plating. Our favourite part is navigating the deeper sections, where the light struggles to penetrate, giving everything a wonderfully eerie feel. This site is definitely one for experienced cold-water wreckies comfortable with deeper profiles and the occasional surge.