MAGGIE TOWNSON
Protected Area
Mersey Narrows
Why dive here
With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - MAGGIE TOWNSON offers some of Northumberland & Northeast's richest wreck diving.
Diving the Maggie Townson is like stepping back into a moment of maritime drama. She went down fast in 1878, right near the Alfred Dock entrance, a quick end for an iron-hulled sailing vessel. We find her sitting upright on the seabed at 15m, remarkably intact, considering the busy shipping lanes above. The real joy here is tracing her lines. You can still make out the bow and stern, and sections of the deck structure are visible, draped in soft corals and anenomes. Conger eels love to poke their heads from the darker recesses of the collapsed holds, and the odd lobster hunkers down in any available crack. Our favourite is finning slowly around the stern, imagining the chaos that led to her sinking. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, sometimes a clear 10m, other days a murky 3, but the wreck's structure always stands out. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a rummage, best done on a slack tide.
Typical MAGGIE TOWNSON Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Blue Planet Aquarium
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Delph Watersports Centre
Southsea Scuba
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