Wreck of Rockcliffe

Protected Area

Salt Pans 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 Rockcliffe 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 the Rockcliffe, sitting just off the Northumberland coast, is one of our absolute favourite wreck dives in the Northeast. This isn't some broken-up pile of metal; it’s a proper ship, upright and largely intact, making for some seriously atmospheric diving. Dropping down onto the deck, you’ll often find yourself enveloped in schools of pollock and coalfish, their silver scales flashing in the limited light filtering through the North Sea. We love exploring the holds, seeing how the light plays through gaps in the plating, and spotting the anenomes and dead man’s fingers that have colonised every available surface. Keep an eye out for the resident wolf fish, a chunky character we've often seen peering out from beneath a deck plate. Visibility can be a bit hit-and-miss here – it’s the North Sea, after all – but on a good day, when it stretches to 10 metres or more, the Rockcliffe feels immense. It’s a dive that rewards patience and a good torch, perfect for divers who appreciate history and the rugged beauty of UK wreck diving.