Wreck of Sea Mew

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 Sea Mew 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 Sea Mew, just off Beadnell, isn’t about big pelagics or technicolour reefs. This is proper UK diving, rugged and rewarding. We love it because it’s so accessible for a wreck, sitting at just 12 metres, but it still feels like a proper exploration. Descending through the green, you quickly make out her broken hull, a scattering of ribs and plates across the seabed. The stern is our favourite part, with the propeller shaft still clearly visible, a dark tunnel for crabs and lobsters. Look closely amongst the twisted metal and you’ll find nudibranchs, often lemon doris, clinging to the rust, and the occasional wolf fish peering from beneath a plate. It’s a site that rewards slow, methodical poking about – bring a good torch to peer into the dark crevices. Visibility can be a bit of a lottery, sometimes a glorious 8-10 metres, other days a moody 3, but that just adds to the atmospheric dive experience. It’s perfect for newer wreck divers looking to get a feel for penetration without anything too tight, or experienced divers wanting to just potter about and spot macro life.