wreck

Log This Dive

ELEPHANT

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.