MERISIA - Northumberland & Northeast

The Merisia, a trawler sunk by a mine in 1940, sits in a remarkably shallow five metres, making it an excellent choice for extended bottom times and a more relaxed dive. What we love about this wreck is how approachable it is. You can spend a good hour here, slowly tracing its 39-metre length. The stern is often our first port of call, where the propeller shaft leads into the intact engine room. We’ve finned through the hold, finding it still holds a sense of its working life. Visibility can be hit-or-miss, as with much of the Northeast, but on a good day, the light penetrates right to the seabed, illuminating the wreck’s skeletal remains. We’ve seen small shoals of pollack darting through the superstructure and lobsters tucked into every available crevice. It’s not about huge pelagics here, but rather the quiet colonisation of a man-made structure by the local critters. A perfect site for newer wreck divers or those looking for a long, unhurried exploration, especially when the conditions are calm. It’s also a good site for photographers to really take their time composing shots.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.244587, -4.365093

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

5m

Marine Protected Area: Laxey Bay