GWYNFAEN

Protected Area

Porth Dinllaen I Borth Pistyll

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - GWYNFAEN 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 19m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The *Gwynfaen* is one of our picks for a proper Northumberland wreck dive. She’s not huge, just 42 metres long, an iron steamer that went down in 1904. What we love about her is how intact she is for a wreck of her age in these waters. You drop down, and suddenly the bow looms out of the gloom, still quite proud, often silhouetted against the lighter surface if you time it right. We usually find the *Gwynfaen* sitting upright, and that’s a big part of her charm. The stern is a bit more broken up, but the midships, where the boiler stands, offers some great swim-throughs. Keep an eye out for the resident crabs that scuttle through the nooks and crannies – we’ve seen some hefty edible crabs here. Visibility can be a typical North Sea lottery, anything from a few metres to a decent 10, so pick your day. Slack water is key for a relaxed exploration, otherwise, you'll be battling a fair push. It's a great site for divers who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a current.