wreck

Log This Dive

FREDERIC

Diving the Frederic is always an exercise in timing. We’ve found her best around slack water, otherwise, that Tyne current makes for a proper workout. This isn’t a sprawling wreck; she’s a compact barge, resting upright in about 15 metres of water, a victim of a collision back in 1884. What makes Frederic special, for us, is how the river has claimed her. The hull is coated in a thick, velvety layer of green and brown algae, waving gently in the flow. We often see decent-sized cod lurking in the shadows, and conger eels peek out from under the collapsed deck plating. It's an atmospheric dive, murky and silty, with visibility typically around two to five metres. You’ll spend your time circling the small structure, peering into the dark holds, feeling that cold embrace of the river. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of low-vis exploration.