Wreck of Irene - Northumberland & Northeast

The Irene isn’t about big pelagics or colourful reef fish, but if you’re into proper North Sea wreck diving, this one’s a beauty. Lying in around 30 metres, it’s often overlooked for some of its more famous neighbours, which is exactly why we love it. The visibility can be challenging, a typical North Sea green, but when it clears, the intact bow section is just fantastic. We’ve spent hours here, poking around the holds, imagining the cargo, with hundreds of squat lobsters scuttling away from our lights. Conger eels are a given, their heads protruding from every nook and cranny, and the deck plating is thick with dead man's fingers. Our tip? Dive it on slack water, even if it means an early start. That way you can really take your time and appreciate the scale of the vessel, which for a steamship launched in 1898, is remarkably well preserved. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who don't mind a bit of a current and appreciate history over tropics.

Location
Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
54.773240, -4.365612
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Isle of Whithorn Bay

Nearby Dive Sites in Northumberland & Northeast

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of Irene

Marine Life in Northumberland & Northeast

Home to 132 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 15 whales & dolphins, 11 sharks & rays, 10 other, 10 seagrass & algae, 9 crabs & lobsters.

Notable Species