Wreck of Bolina

Protected Area

Salt Pans 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 Bolina 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 Wreck of Bolina isn't one of those wrecks that’s intact enough to give you a full sense of its former life. Instead, we think of it as a series of interesting debris fields, scattered across the seabed off St. Mary’s Lighthouse. You’ll find sections of hull plating, twisted metal, and the occasional pipe or boiler section that gives a hint of its steamship past. It’s a proper rummage, a good poke-around site where the real reward comes from the marine life that has made a home here. We love the way the north-eastern light filters through the green water on a good day, illuminating the anemones that coat every surface. Look closely among the wreckage for the scuttling crabs, the watchful blennies, and the occasional lobster tucked into a crevice. It’s a gentle dive, generally, and while depths can vary with the tide, it usually sits around 15-20 metres, making it accessible for most qualified divers. Our best advice? Go at slack water; the currents here can pick up, and you’ll want time to really explore the nooks and crannies.