LILY OAK

Protected Area

St Bees Head

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - LILY OAK 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 24m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Lily Oak might not have the grand scale of some other wreck dives, but this fishing vessel, sunk in 1977, has a quiet charm we really appreciate. She sits upright at 24 metres, still largely intact, which means you can get a real feel for her original shape. We love poking around the wheelhouse, imagining the last moments before she went down. Her relatively small size means you can explore the whole wreck comfortably on a single dive. Even though she's just 15 metres long, the structure is complex enough to keep things interesting. Keep an eye out for the resident wrasse darting between the deck timbers, and often you’ll find some feisty velvet swimming crabs tucked into crevices. The visibility here can be classic North Sea, so if you catch it on a good day, it’s a beautifully atmospheric dive. It’s a superb dive for those looking for an accessible wreck with a bit of history you can truly get your hands on, without the need for advanced penetration skills.