HMS C11

Protected Area

Southern North Sea

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - HMS C11 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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

Diving the HMS C11 is like stepping back in time, then watching nature reclaim it. This C-class submarine went down in 1909 after a collision, and she lies broken but largely intact on the seabed off Northumberland. We love that eerie sense of history combined with the sheer amount of life that now calls her home. You’ll drop down onto the conning tower, often with schools of coalfish swirling around it. Our favourite part is navigating through the gaps in the hull plates, where big ling and conger eels often lurk in the gloom. The visibility here can be… challenging, but when it’s good, the sight of light filtering through the broken structure, illuminating the jewel anemones, is genuinely captivating. This isn't a dive for the inexperienced; strong currents are common, and penetration requires good buoyancy and wreck training. But for those who appreciate a proper historical wreck, complete with its resident creatures, the C11 is a true Northumberland classic.