LAIRDSHELM - Northumberland & Northeast

The Lairdselm isn't your grand, intact wreck. Forget rummaging through cabins or navigating a pristine hull. This steamship, sunk in 1929, is less a wreck and more a scattering of intriguing metal chunks spread across a shallow, sandy seabed. What we love about it is how accessible it is, sitting at a maximum depth of 5 metres. It’s perfect for a relaxed dive or even a snorkel on a calm day. You'll find twisted plates of steel, some large enough to shelter sizeable cod, and scattered machinery parts. It’s the sheer volume of macro life that really grabs us here. We’ve seen incredible nudibranchs, often several species in one dive, tucked into the crevices. Look closely, and you’ll spot blennies peeking out and small crabs scuttling between the fragmented sections. Our favourite part is finding the occasional brass fitting, heavily encrusted but still hinting at the ship's past. Visibility can vary with the tide, but on a good day, the light plays beautifully through the shallow water, illuminating the rust and the life clinging to it. It’s a gentle exploration, well-suited to newer divers or anyone keen on a slow, observant dive without the pressure of depth or complex navigation.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

55.008377, -5.051138

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

5m

Marine Protected Area: Corsewall Point to Milleur Point