HIBERNIAN

Protected Area

West of Copeland

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - HIBERNIAN 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 38m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Hibernian, she’s a proper character, sitting upright at 38 metres. We love that she’s a compact wreck, easy to get your head around in one dive, but still packed with detail. You’ll find her bow pointing north, the stern to the south, with two boilers and a sizeable engine taking centre stage. We always make a point of peering into the open holds, where crabs scuttle and curious wrasse dart in and out of the shadows. The atmosphere down there is something else – the deep green light, the gentle sway of dead man's fingers coating the metalwork. Look closely for the smaller stuff: tiny gobies tucked into crevices, nudibranchs slowly making their way across the plates. Because she’s relatively intact, the structure itself provides plenty of overheads and interesting swim-throughs for the more experienced. It’s a dive that rewards a slow approach, letting your eyes adjust to the subtle changes in light and texture. We’d suggest saving this one for a calm day with good visibility, as the deeper depth makes anything less a bit of a scramble.