Hildena

Protected Area

Llanbadrig - Dinas Gynfor

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - Hildena 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 55m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Hildena is one of those wrecks that really sticks with you. Dropping down onto her at 55 metres, you immediately feel the weight of history. She’s a reasonably intact trawler, 36 metres long, and we love how she lies upright on the seabed, almost as if she’s still steaming along. You can trace her lines from bow to stern, spotting the winch gear up front and the faint outline of her engine room aft. Visibility here can be a bit variable, typical for the Northeast, but on a good day, the amount of light that still penetrates down makes her incredibly atmospheric. We’ve found wolf fish tucked into crevices near the propeller and conger eels peeking out from behind plating. The deckhouse is heavily collapsed, but the hull itself offers plenty of swim-throughs for those with appropriate training and a steady hand. Our favourite part has to be the sheer density of plumose anemones coating the entire structure; they wave in the current, creating this surreal, feathery landscape. This is definitely one for experienced wreck divers comfortable with deeper technical profiles and cooler water.