Wreck of Forest Queen

Protected Area

East Stewartry 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 Forest Queen 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 Forest Queen, a cargo steamer that went down in 1894, isn't your average pile of twisted metal. This isn’t a deep, dark wreck for tech divers only. We love that she's broken up enough to feel like a proper archaeological site, scattered across the seabed at a depth that keeps her accessible to most advanced open water divers. You’ll find boilers, machinery, and hull plates spread out, creating a really interesting landscape for navigation. What we really enjoy here is the way the Northumberland currents have sculpted the site over time. The exposed beams and plates are absolutely smothered in plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying like fields of flowers in the surge. Look closer amongst the kelp and you'll often spot wrasse darting between the crevices, and we’ve even come across the occasional inquisitive seal pup playing hide-and-seek in the deeper sections. It's a proper British wreck dive – a bit silty sometimes, sure, but full of character and surprisingly vibrant life. Go on a slack tide for the best visibility; it really makes a difference to seeing the details of this old lady.