Wreck of Jessie Ray

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 Jessie Ray 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 Wreck of Jessie Ray. We love this site for its character and the journey it takes to get there. It’s not about tropical colours, it’s about history and the sheer volume of life that thrives in our cooler waters. Dropping onto Jessie, the first thing you notice is the way the light filters through the kelp, creating an eerie, almost cathedral-like atmosphere. The wreck itself is pretty broken up, but that’s part of its charm. You can swim through the holds, seeing where the metal has buckled and twisted, now completely encrusted with dead man’s fingers and bright anemones. Our favourite part is finding the swim-throughs in the stern, where you often spook a resident conger eel or spot a ling lurking in the shadows. We’d suggest going at slack tide, of course, but also try to pick a day with a bit of sun; it makes a surprising difference to the visibility and the mood down there. It’s a great dive for those who appreciate the quiet drama of a historical wreck and don't mind a bit of a current.