Wreck of Emma Laura

Protected Area

Borgue Coast

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 Emma Laura 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 Emma Laura. Now there’s a proper North Sea wreck for you. We love the way she’s broken but still holds her shape in places, giving you plenty to poke around in. Drop down onto the sand and the first thing you notice is how the light filters through the green water, making the metal frames glow. It’s dark enough inside her collapsed holds that your torch beam really comes into its own, picking out the resident conger eels. Look closely amongst the twisted girders and you’ll spot dead man’s fingers clinging on, their soft orange contrasting with the rust. This isn’t a pretty, vibrant reef dive, it’s a history lesson encased in steel and barnacles. The strong currents here mean the visibility can be a bit of a lottery, but on a good day, when the slack tide hits just right, you can spend a solid hour exploring her skeleton. We always suggest timing your dive for high slack; it makes the descent much more enjoyable. It’s not for beginners, mind. The depths here, and the potential for surge, demand some experience. But if you’re comfortable in colder water and enjoy the eerie beauty of a well-aged wreck, the Emma Laura is a real character.