GIRL DONNA

Protected Area

St Bees Head

Why dive here

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

The Girl Donna, a fishing vessel that went down in '99, offers a surprisingly solid dive given its relatively recent demise. At 20 meters, it’s a comfortable depth for most PADI Advanced Open Water divers, sitting upright and largely intact. We love how the wheelhouse is still largely there, a fantastic swim-through if you’re comfortable with overhead environments and your buoyancy is spot on. Barnacles coat the entire structure, and we’ve seen some decent-sized edible crabs tucked into the nooks and crannies of the deck. Keep an eye out for dogfish cruising the surrounding seabed; they’re often spotted on the approach. Our tip: aim for a slack tide dive. The Northumberland currents can be a bit cheeky, and you’ll want to take your time exploring the stern where the propeller is still in place. It’s a great little wreck for photographers looking for an interesting subject without too much depth challenge.