SAPPHIRE

Protected Area

Newborough Warren And Ynys Llanddwyn

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - SAPPHIRE 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 7m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Sapphire is a smaller fishing vessel, only 15 metres long, but she’s quite accessible at just 7m deep. We’ve found her to be a nice introductory wreck dive, especially for those getting comfortable with overhead environments, though penetration requires good buoyancy. Since she went down in '91 after grounding on the Grampian Castle, the wreck has settled into the seabed and now hosts a decent amount of local critters. Expect to see wrasse peeking from crevices and the occasional squat lobster clinging to exposed metalwork; we always keep an eye out for nudibranchs on the deck plating. The wreck is pretty broken up, but you can still make out the general shape of a fishing boat. It’s a good spot for a second dive.