DERRYMORE

Protected Area

North Channel

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - DERRYMORE 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 20m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Derrymore, off the Northumberland coast, is one of our favourite North East wrecks. It’s not about huge pelagics here, it’s about the intimacy of a historical site and the life that has claimed it. We often find the visibility here can be surprisingly good, especially on a settled tide, sometimes letting us see the whole bow section appear out of the green. She’s a compact steamship, only 51 metres, but there’s plenty to explore. We love finning over the intact boiler, a real focal point, before heading towards the stern where the propeller shaft is often visible, leading to the crumpled stern section. Look closely in the nooks and crannies of the plates; we’ve had some cracking encounters with wolfish tucked in the shadows, and conger eels are often peeking out from behind collapsed bulkheads. It’s a proper ‘hands-on’ wreck, suitable for experienced divers who appreciate exploring a piece of history rather than just observing it from a distance. The depth, 20 metres max, gives you ample bottom time to really soak it all in.