Wreck of Darent

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 Darent 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 Darent, a tugboat that met its end off the Northumberland coast, is one of our absolute favourite wreck dives in the UK. We know, a tugboat doesn't sound glamorous, but trust us, this one delivers. Lying mostly intact at around 20 metres, she’s a genuinely approachable wreck for divers with a bit of experience under their belt. You can fin right along her deck, peer into the holds, and even get a sense of her shape, which is often a luxury on North Sea wrecks. What we really love about the Darent is the way the sea has claimed her. The steel is draped in dead man's fingers and anemones, and you’ll often find conger eels peering out from gaps in the plating, their thick bodies surprisingly visible even in lower visibility. On a good day, when the sun filters through, the light plays off the metal and the colour is genuinely surprising for a UK dive. We always suggest trying to hit this one on a slack tide; the currents can pick up, making it a bit less enjoyable to explore her contours. Keep an eye out for the resident wrasse too, they’re surprisingly bold.