JAMES POSTLETHWAITE

Protected Area

Carlingford Lough

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - JAMES POSTLETHWAITE 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 12m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The *James Postlethwaite* is a grand old schooner, sitting upright and mostly intact on a flat seabed at a very forgiving 12 metres. We love it because it’s a proper dive through history, not just a pile of scattered timber. Built in 1881, you can still make out the bow, stern, and the holds, which are often packed with squat lobsters and small conger eels poking their heads out. Visibility here can be a bit of a gamble, but when it's good, say 5-8 metres, the light filters down beautifully through the green water. We'd suggest timing your dive for slack water, preferably on a neap tide, to avoid fighting any serious current that whips through the fairway. Exploring the holds, we often find common crabs scuttling over the planks and the occasional dogfish tucked away. It's a dive that suits anyone comfortable in cool water, offering a real sense of connection to the past without demanding advanced skills.