Wreck of Franklin

Protected Area

Shoulder o' Craig

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 Franklin 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 Franklin, a trawler that went down over a century ago, sits upright and largely intact on the seabed off Northumberland. We love a wreck with a story, and this one certainly has it, though you’ll need to do a little homework on its history before you dive it to really appreciate what you’re seeing. Descending onto the wheelhouse feels like dropping into a time capsule. You can still make out the mast structure, and the winches are surprisingly well-preserved, giving the whole site a real sense of its working life. The stern is our favourite spot, often swarming with lobsters tucked into every crevice, and the propeller blades usually host a tangle of curious wrasse. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, sometimes it’s a murky green, other days you get 10 metres and can really appreciate the wreck’s scale. It’s a site that rewards patient exploration, perfect for divers who enjoy poking around nooks and crannies rather than chasing pelagics. Keep an eye on the current; it can pick up, so we’d suggest timing your dive for slack water to make the most of it. The deeper sections require good buoyancy control, but the shallower parts are generally very forgiving.