Wreck of St Mary'S Isle

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 St Mary'S Isle 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

We’ll admit it, a good wreck dive in UK waters sometimes means bracing for cold and dealing with visibility that comes and goes. But St Mary’s Isle is one we always recommend. You’re descending onto a real piece of history here, a former sailing ship that ran aground in 1890. It’s not just a pile of scattered timber; you can make out the hull structure, the ribs of the ship, and even some of the cargo. Our favourite part is poking around the bow section, which often has the best light filtering down, illuminating some of the older, darker growth on the timbers. The fish here are surprisingly bold too – we’ve had dogfish glide right past us, and the cracks and crevices are packed with blennies and butterfish. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the quiet solitude of a shipwreck, the slow reveal of history, and the way the sea reclaims what was once man-made. If you’ve got a good torch, exploring the smaller nooks can really pay off; we often find spider crabs tucked away, oblivious to us peering in. Just pick a calm day; the Northumberland coast can get a bit lumpy.