Wreck of Kittiwake

Protected Area

Isle of Whithorn Bay

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 Kittiwake 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

Forget whatever images pop into your head when someone says "UK diving". The Kittiwake, off the Northumberland coast, is a proper dive, one we always enjoy. She’s not some scattered pile of planks; this is a solid, intact wreck, lying upright, and it feels like you're exploring history. We love picking our way through the superstructure, seeing the davits and winches, then dropping into the holds. On a good day, with a bit of sunlight filtering down, it’s genuinely atmospheric – the kind of light that makes the resident wrasse and pollock glow with an almost ethereal sheen. The Kittiwake is perfect for divers who appreciate the story behind the metal. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of plumose anemones, like fluffy white flowers, clinging to every surface, and we’ve often spotted lobsters tucked into crevices. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits; you always find something new, a different angle, another detail you missed before. We’d suggest timing your dive for slack water, otherwise, that North Sea current can make it a bit of a workout. It’s a site that really showcases the beauty of cold-water wreck diving.