Wreck of Victoire - Northumberland & Northeast

Okay, so the Victoire. She’s a proper old-school wreck, a French trawler that went down way back in 1918 off St. Mary's Island. Don't expect some perfectly intact ghost ship here; she's broken up quite a bit, but that's precisely what we love about her. It means you get these fantastic, jumbled sections of hull and deck plating, creating a maze of nooks and crannies. Dropping down, the first thing that hits you is the sheer scale of the scrap metal, all encrusted with plumose anemones and dead man’s fingers. Visibility can swing dramatically, as it often does in the North Sea, but on a good day, you can really make out the ship’s ribs and structure. Look closely among the wreckage, and you'll spot lobsters eyeing you from their hidey-holes, butterfish darting between the plates, and often enough, a grumpy-looking conger eel tucked into a pipe. We always find the stern section the most interesting, with its more defined shape. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration and a keen eye, perfect for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of current.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.960167, -5.018276

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Corsewall Point to Milleur Point