wreck

Log This Dive

MERSEY

The Mersey is one of those wrecks we return to year after year, especially when we want a relaxed dive with plenty to see without battling strong currents or deep profiles. She was a pilot boat, sunk back in 1885 after a collision, and now rests upright in about 13 metres of water, just offshore from the Tyne. It’s not a huge wreck, only about 24 metres long, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in character and the sheer volume of life she attracts. You’ll find her main structure still very much intact, with the bow and stern easily distinguishable. We love finning along the deck, peering into the old engine room area which is now home to crabs and small lobsters tucked into every crevice. The wheelhouse is gone, but the impression of it remains, and you often see schools of coalfish circling the highest points. Look closely at the hull plates and you’ll find nudibranchs, often lemon slugs, moving slowly across the rust-coloured metal. Visibility can be a bit variable, as it often is in the North Sea, but even on an average day, the Mersey stands out against the silty seabed, an inviting shape drawing you in. It’s a superb dive for newer wreck divers or photographers wanting to practice their skills on something more substantial than a reef.