wreck

Log This Dive

HOPPER NUMBER 6

Hopper Number 6 is a proper northern wreck, a piece of industrial history lying just off the Northumberland coast. We’re talking about a big old barge, sunk way back in 1896, and it’s a site we always enjoy for its sheer accessibility and the way it connects you to the past. It’s shallow, just 3 metres at high tide, which means long bottom times even in winter and it’s brilliant for newer divers who want to get a feel for a proper wreck without the depth. You’ll find the wreck well scoured into the sand, with its ribs and plates exposed like a skeletal framework. We love poking around the remnants of the hull, imagining the noise of those old coal hoppers rumbling across the decks. Despite the shallow depth, the wreck attracts a surprising amount of life. Look out for the resident crabs scuttling amongst the plates, and the juvenile fish darting through the rusted metal. It’s a site that changes with the light, too; on a bright day, the green hues of the North Sea are really something, filtering down and illuminating the wreck’s contours. We’d suggest going at slack water, ideally on a rising tide, to minimise any surge and get the clearest views. Hopper Number 6 might not be a coral reef, but it’s got a character all its own, a silent testament to the region’s maritime heritage.