Wreck of Acacia

Protected Area

Isle of Whithorn Bay

Why dive here

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

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Acacia, a Royal Navy fleet tender, ran aground off Holy Island in 1917, and her remains are a proper North Sea dive. We’ve always had a soft spot for wrecks that feel like a proper investigation, and this one delivers. It’s largely broken up, but that’s part of its charm; the jumble of plates, ribs, and machinery creates an incredible habitat. We love picking through the debris, spotting conger eels lurking in the deeper sections, their heads poking out from twisted metal. Visibility can be a real lottery here, but when it’s good, the light filtering down through the kelp-draped sections is something else. You’ll see huge schools of coalfish swirling around the more intact boiler section, and the anemones that coat every surface are surprisingly colourful. It’s a dive for those who enjoy a bit of history with their marine life, divers who don’t mind a bit of current and appreciate the subtle beauty of a cold-water wreck. Our best dives have always been on a slack tide, otherwise, you're fighting a bit too hard to properly explore.