Wreck of Lion - Northumberland & Northeast

The Lion wreck. Ah, the Lion. For those of us who appreciate a proper piece of history, rather than just some scattered debris, this is a Northumberland standout. We've spent many a chilly morning dropping onto this steamer, and it always delivers. The bow section is particularly intact, standing proud from the seabed, often with a decent list to port. You can still see the hawsepipes and the anchor chain disappearing into the gloom, a real testament to its early 20th-century build. What we love about the Lion is how the sea has truly claimed it. There are enormous plumose anemones, white and feathery, clinging to every surface, swaying gently in the current. You’ll often find wolfish poking their heads out from gaps in the plating, and the occasional ling slinking through the deeper holds. Penetration is possible for experienced wreck divers into some of the cargo holds, but the silt can be thick, so buoyancy control is key. Our favourite moment is always coming across the propeller – a huge bronze spectacle, still attached and often swarming with small pollock. This site really suits divers comfortable with colder water and decent currents, those who enjoy exploring a genuinely historic wreck rather than a flat debris field.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.830090, -5.106877

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Morroch Bay