ELEPHANT - Northumberland & Northeast

The Elephant wreck, just off the Northumberland coast, is one of our favourite wooden wreck dives in the UK. We know wooden wrecks can sometimes be a bit of a low visibility game of ‘guess the shape’, but the Elephant is different. You drop onto a surprisingly coherent footprint of timbers, ribs, and hull planks, all lying at 16m. We've often found small, colourful anemones clinging to the exposed timbers, and sometimes a curious grey seal will pop by for a look, especially during the autumn months. What really gets us about the Elephant isn't its size, but its history. It went down in 1869, making it a proper piece of maritime heritage. You can trace the outline of the vessel, imagine it sailing – it really brings the story to life. The site is best dived at slack water, as currents here can be a bit frisky. Visibility on a good day can hit 8-10 metres, allowing you to really appreciate the scale of the scattered remains. It’s a dive for those who love history and a quiet exploration, rather than dramatic swim-throughs.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

53.527733, -3.139753

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

16m

Marine Protected Area: Ravenmeols Hills