LINDA BLANCHE - Northumberland & Northeast

The Linda Blanche is one of our favourite North Sea wrecks, a proper historical piece sitting upright and largely intact. Dropping down to 38 metres, you’ll find her resting on a silty seabed, her bow pointing north. Built in 1914, she was a relatively new steamship when a German U-boat intercepted her passage from Manchester to Belfast in 1915, sinking her with explosives. Today, that history feels palpable. We love exploring her holds, often finding schools of small coalfish darting through the gloom. The triple expansion engine is a highlight, quite exposed and festooned with dead man’s fingers and hydroids. Keep an eye out for ling tucked into crevices; they’re often curious. Visibility here can be a real lottery, but on a good day, with a decent current pushing through, the wreck stands proud, a dark silhouette against the green water. It's a dive that suits experienced wreck divers comfortable with colder water and deeper profiles. We’d suggest a strong torch to really pick out the details, and remember that surge can be an issue if there's any swell running.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

53.690556, -3.731083

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

38m

Marine Protected Area: Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl