Wreck of Boy Anthony II

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 Boy Anthony II 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 Boy Anthony II, a fishing trawler sunk in the 1940s, sits upright on the seabed off Northumberland, a proper wreck dive for those who enjoy a bit of history with their nitrogen. We love the way she’s mostly intact, offering a genuine sense of the vessel she once was, rather than just a pile of scattered debris. As you descend, the shape emerges from the green murk, her wheelhouse often still recognisable, and the bow section surprisingly robust. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration. Peer into the hold, often silting up a bit, where crabs scuttle away from your light. The metalwork, now heavily encrusted, provides shelter for all sorts of critters – we’ve seen everything from plump lobsters tucked into crevices to schools of small coalfish darting through the superstructure. Visibility can be a typical North Sea affair, but on a good day, with a bit of sunlight, the wreck takes on an ethereal quality. Best to hit this one on a slack tide; the currents here can be a bit frisky otherwise.